Labour Minister rejects CN’s request for binding arbitration

(Ottawa) Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has rejected a request for binding arbitration by Canadian National Railway Company (CN) as time runs out before a strike by employees.

MacKinnon said he expects CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference to negotiate in good faith, adding that federal mediators remain available to assist in the process.

CN has threatened to lock out employees as early as Aug. 22 if the two sides cannot reach an agreement on issues such as hours and wages.

The union, which represents 9,300 conductors, engineers, yard workers and rail traffic controllers, is negotiating simultaneously with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).

The union says the only way forward is for the rail companies to drop their concession demands.

Meanwhile, CN says Teamsters has rejected four contract offers this year without counteroffers and is calling on it to make a meaningful commitment at the bargaining table.

CN and CPKC have begun suspending shipments of certain goods, including hazardous materials, to ensure they do not remain stuck on the tracks in the event of a work stoppage.