(Ottawa) A Federal Court of Appeal judge has acquitted Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) of contempt of court over its employees’ excessively long working hours.
Justice Donald Rennie’s decision overturns a lower court ruling, saying it is “impossible to support a finding of contempt of court on the facts” given that CPKC has taken “meaningful steps” to comply.
The ruling overturns a Federal Court contempt decision from last year that found the company failed to comply with cease-and-desist orders issued by an arbitrator 22 times in 2018 and 2019.
The orders addressed rest provisions under federal regulations and a pair of collective agreements for conductors and locomotive engineers that largely limit shifts to 10 or 12 hours, depending on circumstances.
CPKC said in a statement that it was satisfied with the acquittal.
The Teamsters union, which represents thousands of CPKC workers, called the decision “very disappointing” and said the company routinely violates collective bargaining agreements.