Canadian railway workers renew strike

After weeks of waiting, Canadian rail workers remain steadfast in their desire to initiate a work stoppage attempt.

More than 9,300 union members at Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railroads voted on Friday to resume strikes at both companies if a negotiated solution cannot be reached.

Previously, members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) had voted to strike on May 1, but the 60-day deadline for voting had expired.

While the initial approval vote included a May 22 rail workers strike, nothing has been done so far because the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) is currently reviewing whether a work stoppage would prevent the country’s railways from transporting certain essential goods. It is still unclear when the CIRB will announce a decision on the ongoing federal review. The CPKC said in a statement Friday that it was unlikely the parties could initiate a legal strike or lockout before mid-July or later.

“CPKC has requested that the CIRB extend the cooling-off period by 30 days after the date on which the CIRB announces its decision,” CPKC said in the statement. “This would help provide stability and predictability regarding timelines for a potential work stoppage and allow all parties involved to plan for such an eventuality.”

Under Canadian labour law, a strike or lockout is not possible without at least 72 hours’ notice. For this reason, no strike date has yet been announced.

Sourcing Journal contacted CN and CPKC.

According to the Teamsters, 98.6 percent of workers at both railroad companies voted in favor of resuming the strike; voter turnout was 89.5 percent.

At CN, 98.4 percent of train drivers, locomotive engineers and shunting workers voted to resume the strike; the turnout was 90.1 percent. And at CPKC, 99.2 percent of workers in these positions voted to maintain the strike; the turnout was 88.6 percent.

95.7 percent of CPKC railway traffic managers voted to reauthorize the strike; 88.5 percent of employees voted.

“CN and CPKC are trying to force changes to our collective bargaining agreements that would roll back working conditions and safety on the rails,” TCRC president Paul Boucher said in a statement. “The Teamsters are trying to stop them. With this renewed strike mandate, we intend to return to the bargaining table, work with federal mediators and do everything in our power to get a fair deal for our members and protect all Canadians.”

In the event of a rail strike, ports in Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal and Halifax would be affected, among others. In addition, delays in intermodal freight services at Canadian container terminals would further exacerbate concerns about port congestion.

CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel expressed concern about a potential strike during a conference call in April, saying it would extend into the harvest season that begins in July, a time when “the demand for our services and the needs of the country have never been greater.”

The union described the second vote as an “unusual step” due to the delay caused by the CIRB review.

Although the TCRC’s two collective agreements expired on December 31, 2023, they will remain in effect under Canadian labour law until the parties reach new agreements.

CPKC says it has been negotiating with the Canadian Teamsters since last September, while CN entered the dispute in November.

Both railroads say their offer to resolve the dispute through binding arbitration is still on the table. The Teamsters have rejected attempts by both railroads to resolve the dispute through arbitration.

CN’s latest offer to the Teamsters includes wage increases of 3 percent in 2024 and 2.5 percent in 2025, as well as a higher pay rate for “hours of service,” which is any work that involves more than 10 hours per shift. CPKC has not disclosed salary details on its latest offer.

“Workers are on the defensive in these negotiations, with both companies demanding a series of concessions on issues such as workforce scheduling, work hours and fatigue management. The stumbling blocks are the companies’ demands – not the unions’ proposals,” the Teamsters said.

The union claims that, given the staff shortage, both CN and CPKC are trying to “increase the availability of train crews,” which is affecting the safety of rail workers.

“CPKC aims to remove all safety-critical fatigue provisions from the collective bargaining agreement,” the Teamsters claim. “The end result will mean train crews will have to stay awake even longer, increasing the risk of derailments and other accidents. CPKC has also failed to address the understaffing of train drivers.”

Meanwhile, the Teamsters say CN is seeking fewer fatigue provisions and that their offer is contingent on acceptance of a “forced relocation program.”

“Their proposal would mean workers would have to move across the country for months to fill labour shortages in remote areas of Canada,” the union said. “CN’s offer is also contingent on the union agreeing to an extension of working days in all provinces west of Ontario.”