(Ottawa) The future of an unprecedented rail work stoppage in Canada hangs on a decision expected Saturday by a federal labour board in a bitter contract dispute between the country’s two largest rail companies and the Teamsters union, which represents thousands of their workers.
The Teamsters, Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) were all awaiting a decision after a marathon nine-hour hearing before the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the union said.
“The union will legally comply with any decision of the CIRB and is prepared to file appeals in Federal Court if necessary,” the union said in a statement released after Friday’s hearing.
A spokesperson for the Canada Industrial Relations Board said members were deliberating and expected to render a decision later Saturday.
Freight shipments and some major commuter rail lines across Canada ground to a halt Thursday when CN and CPKC locked out workers after months of increasingly acrimonious contract negotiations failed to produce a deal. It was the first time there had been simultaneous work stoppages at the railways.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon intervened later in the day, calling on the labour board to send the parties to binding arbitration and force workers back to work while a deal is negotiated.
PHOTO PATRICK DOYLE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon
Mr. MacKinnon’s directive said binding arbitration would produce a settlement to ensure “industrial peace” and protect Canada’s trade relationships and sectors hard hit by the shutdown.
The council held meetings Thursday night and Friday and said it was treating the issue “with the greatest urgency.”
CPKC workers went on strike just as a lockout went into effect early Thursday morning. While CN lifted its lockout Thursday, workers at the company could strike as early as Monday after the Teamsters issued a 72-hour notice Friday.
PHOTO TODD KOROL, REUTERS
Teamsters union workers picketed the Canadian Pacific Kansas City headquarters after being locked out by the company on August 23 in Calgary, Alberta.
CN said service resumed across Canada Friday morning and no major issues had yet been reported.
“The ramp-up continues. We are focused on getting the economy going again and we are calling on the union to do the same and not hold the Canadian economy hostage,” spokesperson Jonathan Abecassis said in an interview Saturday.
CPKC activities were still suspended on Friday.
The Teamsters say both companies are trying to weaken protections around rest periods, shift lengths and scheduling, putting workers’ safety at risk. CN also has a plan to move some employees to remote locations for months at a time to fill labour shortages, the union said.
The Teamsters said the labor secretary’s dismissal was unconstitutional and “would destroy collective bargaining rights.”