Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CPKC) and Canadian National Railway Co. (CN Rail) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, union representing about 9,300 workers, are gearing up for a potential work stoppage later this week.
Workers at CPKC issued 72-hour strike notice that would see them walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time if no deal is reached with the two rail companies. Meanwhile, CN Rail is intended on locking out workers the same time unless an agreement or binding arbitration is reached. Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon rejected CN’s request for binding arbitration.
Negotiations have been stalled over crew scheduling, fatigue management, and wages. The union was initially in a legal strike position earlier this year until the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) was ordered to review the potential health and safety implications of a possible strike or lockout. They had since ruled the work the railways do aren’t considered essential and that a work stoppage does not pose a serious risk to the health and safety of Canadians.
The potential halt of the rail lines Thursday would come after a 13 day cooling off period ordered by the CIRB. Farm groups and industries have been calling on the parties involved, as well as the federal government, to do whatever it takes to reach an agreement.