Teamsters Canada holds second vote on CN and CPKC strike authorization

The union, which represents more than 9,000 CN and CPKC workers, is holding a second strike vote amid stalled wage negotiations with the railroad.

“It is clear that we cannot count on a timely resolution of these unfortunate circumstances and must protect our rights regardless of the outcome,” the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) said in a press release. On May 1, CN and CPKC rail workers voted to strike, which could have begun on May 22.

Canadian Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan referred the rail workers’ dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board on May 13 for a decision on whether some essential transport operations must continue during a strike or lockout (see “Action by Canadian Labour Minister delays possible start of strikes…”). Trains News Wire, May 10, 2024). A possible work stoppage will be put on hold until the board makes a decision.

TCRC’s second strike vote began on Friday, June 14, and will end on June 29, as the current strike mandate expires on June 30. Canadian labour law prohibits unions from calling a strike unless their members have agreed to stop work in the previous 60 days.

If the CIRB decides that a strike would not pose a serious threat to public safety, the earliest a strike could take place would be mid-July, according to the CPKC.

“It is unlikely that the parties will be able to initiate a legal strike or lockout before mid-July or later. In any event, a legal strike or lockout cannot occur until at least 72 hours after the CIRB’s decision,” CPKC said in a June 14 statement.

TCRC said it had sent written submissions to the CIRB and attended two face-to-face meetings with railway officials, but had received “no indication” of how long the negotiation process might take.

“We have no idea how long this process will take or what the outcome might be,” the union said. “The result is a frustrating process. Since the referral, both airlines have completely withdrawn any willingness to negotiate, which has been virtually nonexistent since the meetings began last fall.”

CPKC and CN rail workers – including train conductors, locomotive drivers, shunting workers and traffic controllers – are demanding higher wages and negotiations over staff scheduling, working hours and fatigue management.

“CPKC wants to remove all safety-related fatigue provisions from the collective agreement,” TCRC said. “CN has offered to keep some of its fatigue language for the union if it agrees to a plan that will force workers to move across the country for several months at a time to fill labor shortages in remote areas of the country.”

CN and CPKC requested binding arbitration to resolve the dispute, but the union rejected that offer (see “Teamsters Canada rejects CN offer…,” News Wire, June 6, 2024).

“CN has been negotiating with the TCRC since November 2023 to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Unfortunately, we are no closer to reaching an agreement. The uncertainty about the timing of a resolution and the prospect of work disruptions are damaging CN, our employees, our customers and the Canadian economy,” CN said in a statement last week.

— This story originally appeared on FreightWaves.com.