35 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

Reuters, 8/24/24

Canada labor board orders end to railway work stoppage

 

Summary

• Labor board imposes binding arbitration and continuation of existing contracts
• Teamsters president criticizes decision as setting a dangerous precedent
• Teamsters union prepared to file challenges in federal court if necessary
• CN satisfied, would have preferred negotiated deal

MONTREAL, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered on Saturday a halt to work stoppages at the country's largest railways, signaling an end to an unprecedented service disruption at both main freight rail carriers that threatened to hammer the country's export-driven economy.

The independent labor tribunal made the decision after Canada asked it on Thursday to end an impasse in separate talks between more than 9,000 Teamsters members, and Canadian National Railway (CNR.TO), opens new tab and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP.TO), opens new tab.

 

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[CNJRoss]

[NSAlert] Canadian Railroads Work Stoppage *UPDATE*

 

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8/25/24

 

All embargoes associated with the potential Canadian work stoppage have been cancelled, and affected traffic has begun to move again. 

 

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[CNJRoss]

BLET Weekly News Recap, 8-23-24 (Excerpt)

 

CANADA:
TCRC defiant as government mandates binding arbitration to end CN, CPKC lockouts 

 

Sean O’Brien, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and François Laporte, President of Teamsters Canada, were on the picket line at CPKC’s headquarters in Calgary on August 23.

 

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) remained defiant after the Canadian government ordered binding arbitration to force railroaders back to work after they had been locked out by management at Canadian National and CPKC railways. 
 
In a statement, TCRC said its members would begin returning to work at CN today (August 23), but that the work stoppage at CPKC remains ongoing “pending an order from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). Despite the Labor Minister’s referral, there is no clear indication that the CIRB will actually order an end to the labor dispute at CPKC.” TCRC also filed a new, 72-hour strike notice at CN, with members potentially walking off the job on August 26. 
 
CN and CPKC locked out about 10,000 TCRC members after an impasse in contract negotiations. The lockout began at midnight on August 22, and the government order came about 16 hours later.
 
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference President Paul Boucher reacted with anger to the government mandate. “By resorting to binding arbitration, the government has allowed CN and CPKC to sidestep a union determined to protect rail safety,” he said in a statement. “Despite claiming to value and honor the collective bargaining process, the federal government quickly used its authority to suspend it, mere hours after an employer-imposed work stoppage. The two major railways in Canada manufactured this crisis, took the country hostage, and manipulated the government to once again disregard the rights afforded to working-class Canadians. The TCRC is deeply disappointed by this shameful decision.”
 
Prior to the lockout, BLET National President Eddie Hall said, "Our TCRC Brothers and Sisters have 100 percent of our support in their struggle with CPKC and CN.” He also told the Washington Post that BLET members were instructed to honor picket lines in areas operated by Canadian rail workers (not including informational picketing or leafletting that may happen on U.S. soil). 
 
TCRC President Boucher said the main obstacles to reaching an agreement are the companies’ demands, not union proposals. He said both railways have been hit by labor shortages and are trying to squeeze more availability out of train crews. 

Teamsters Canada/TCRC photos

 

Teamsters Canada Rail Conference members on the picket lines after they were locked out by management at CN and CPKC on August 22.

 

 

[CNJRoss]

Reuters, 8/25/24

Canadian rail decision is a win for companies, union leader says

 

Summary

• Union to mount legal challenge against decision
• Air Canada pilots concerned how ruling will affect their talks
• Both railways say they would have preferred a negotiated settlement
• CN and CP railways focusing on restoring service

MONTREAL, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A decision obliging more than 9,000 Canadian rail workers to stay on the job is a win for the railways and could impact bargaining in other federally regulated sectors like aviation, the head of a Canadian rail workers' union told Reuters.

Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, also said the union would work with other labour groups as it mounts a legal challenge to a Saturday decision that halted work stoppages at the country's two largest railways and imposed arbitration. 

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[CNJRoss]

Reuters, 8/26/24

 

US rails cancel embargoes after Canada work stoppage ends

 

Aug 26 (Reuters) - U.S. railroads Norfolk Southern (NSC.N), opens new tab and BNSF Railway on Monday said all embargoes associated with the potential Canadian work stoppage stand canceled and affected rail traffic has resumed, putting an end to an unprecedented service disruption in the movement of goods across the border.

Canadian National (CNR.TO), opens new tab and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP.TO), opens new tab previously issued embargoes on goods moving to the U.S. as part of an orderly shutdown before a potential work stoppage. 

 

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[CNJRoss]

Jacobin, 9/21/24

 

Rail Giants Score Another Win Against Workers

 

After months of tense negotiations, Canadian rail companies enlisted the government to block a strike, shutting down railworkers’ fight for safer conditions and better hours. The federal intervention sets a troubling precedent for future union talks.

 

On August 22, Canadian rail workers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) spent a brief moment on the picket lines before the Canadian Liberal government intervened to end the work stoppages and force binding arbitration.

 

After months of intransigence at the bargaining table, the two corporations that make up Canada’s rail duopoly — the Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd (CPKC) — locked out their workers, counting on government intervention to resolve the dispute in their favor.

 

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