OTTAWA – The Canadian freight industry’s industrial action – the first to shut down both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City simultaneously – has ended.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon ordered the railways to resume operations this afternoon after the dispute was referred to binding arbitration. The stoppage began at 12:01 a.m. today after CN and CPKC locked out train drivers and conductors represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, as well as CPKC rail traffic controllers.
“This collective bargaining process belongs to CN Rail, CPKC and TCRC alone – but its impact and the consequences of the current impasse are borne by all Canadians,” said MacKinnon. “As Minister of Labour, I believe the parties are at a fundamental impasse. Therefore, it is my duty and responsibility to use my powers under the Canadian Labour Code to ensure industrial peace and find the short and long-term solutions that are in the national interest.”
The existing contracts between TCRC and both railroads will be extended until new agreements are signed. Negotiated agreements are always preferable, MacKinnon said, but the needs of the nation outweigh the need for a deal reached at the negotiating table.
“Workers, farmers, commuters and businesses rely on Canada’s railways every day and will continue to do so. It is the government’s duty and responsibility to ensure industrial peace in this vital sector,” said MacKinnon. “That’s why we will investigate why conflicts continue to arise in the rail sector and what conditions have led to the parallel work stoppages we are seeing. Canadians can be assured that their government will not allow them to suffer when parties fail to meet their responsibilities. Especially when their livelihoods, worker safety and their communities are at stake.”
Last week, MacKinnon rejected CN’s request to submit the stalled contract negotiations to binding arbitration.
“Consistent with our discussion on August 5, 2024, I want to make clear that it is your shared responsibility – the Canadian National Railways Company and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – to negotiate in good faith and work diligently toward a new collective agreement,” MacKinnon wrote on August 14.
At the time, just before the strike deadline expired in a week, he said federal mediators were ready to help with the collective bargaining.
