Massive Canadian rail disruptions move closer

A Canadian rail workers union and two major Canadian railroads moved closer to a disruptive nationwide strike on 22 August, with the union issuing on Sunday a 3-day strike notice to Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and fellow railroad Canadian National (CN) telling the union it will lock employees out that same day.

A strike by workers from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference would cause widespread disruptions to commodity deliveries across North America. The major carriers last week began to embargo shipments of hazardous materials between the US and Canada.

Canadian National expects to issue new embargoes today. Its shutdown plan began last Monday.

"Unfortunately, we have no choice but to keep moving forward with this plan which means that by Thursday morning, no goods will be moving on the railroad," the railroad said.

CPKC similarly began to implement shutdown plans last week. Tomorrow it will begin embargoing all shipments originating in Canada and all US shipments headed to Canada.

Contracts between the Teamsters and each railroad expired at the end of last year. Employees have continued to work under those agreements but that is nearing an end as the parties remain far apart on many issues including pay and work hours.

The union and railroads' strategies differ. The Teamsters so far have only issued a strike notice at one carrier. Contract negotiations are occurring separately with each railroad.

"The only reason we served strike notice at [Canadian Pacific Kansas City] is because the company was set to cancel our expired collective agreements," the union said. "This would have created a situation where our members had no rights or protections at work."

The union claimed CPKC is pressuring it for concession that would make it " harder for workers to predict when they might be called for work, creating a fatigue-related safety risk." The union also said the carrier was trying to change work rules related to being held away from home, and undermining Canada Labour Code provisions.

CPKC in turn told the Teamsters it will lock out employees on 22 August unless the two parties are able to come to either a negotiated agreement or agree to binding arbitration.

The Teamsters said late Sunday that, at that time, it did not intend to issue a strike against Canadian National. But Canadian National said it will lock employees out "unless an agreement or binding arbitration is achieved" before before 12:01am ET on 22 August.

"Despite negotiations over the weekend, no meaningful progress has occurred, and the parties remain very far apart," Canadian National said.

By Abby Caplan