Canada’s federal government has stepped in to quickly resolve a major rail strike that was causing big disruptions.
The Teamsters union, representing about 9,300 workers, was in a labor dispute with Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), which led to a shutdown of the railways.
This halt threatened supply chains and the delivery of important goods like grains, coal, and timber to the U.S., where Canada sends a large portion of its exports.
Labour Minister Steve McKinnon announced that railway operations should restart “within days” as the government has ordered both sides to go to binding arbitration.
This means a third party will make the final decision on the dispute.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board will handle the settlement and extend the current labor terms until a resolution is reached.
The dispute began when the labor agreements for both railways expired at the end of last year. Negotiations stalled and the companies wanted arbitration to resolve the issues.
CN expressed that it was pleased with the intervention, while CPKC’s CEO said the government had to act to protect Canada’s interests.
The National President of Teamsters Canada, François Laporte, mentioned safety as a key concern. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that train operators are well-rested and safe, as they transport crucial goods and chemicals across the country.
For more details, see the BBC’s coverage.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy586pwk2ko