The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says a potential work stoppage at Canada’s major railways this week could be devastating for small businesses.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. and Canadian National Railway Co. both face the potential for a work stoppage on Thursday if they are unable to reach deals with workers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference issued a news release saying unless the parties can reach a last-minute agreement, workers will be off the job as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Thursday.
On Thursday, federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon rejected a request from CN to impose binding arbitration, saying he wants the company to bargain in good faith. “While CPKC continues to move as much freight as possible prior to a potential work stoppage, we are taking steps for a safe and orderly shutdown of railway operations in Canada,” the company said in a statement Friday.The union said it’s being forced to serve strike notice to the company to protect workers.
In its release Friday, the company said that for its train and engine workers, it’s “focused on a status quo-style contract renewal covering three years with competitive wage increases that are consistent with recent settlements with other railway unions and maintains the status quo for all work rules.” The company said this offer “fully complies with new regulatory requirements for rest.”