TORONTO (AP) — Freight trains are expected to start rolling again soon in Canada after the government forced the country’s two major railroads into arbitration with their labor union Thursday, averting potentially dire economic consequences across the country and in the U.S. Canadian National said it ended its lockout immediately Thursday evening in an effort to get its trains running quickly.
CPKC railroad did not say exactly when its lockout would end. The company said in a statement that it will follow the direction of the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which is overseeing the arbitration. The union representing 10,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers responded angrily to the order, accusing the railroads of intentionally creating a crisis to force the government to intervene.
It also said it would keep its picket lines in place while reviewing the decision. The government ordered the railroads into arbitration with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference to end the lockout that began at 12:01 a.m.
Thursday after the two sides were unable to resolve the contract dispute. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the decision to order the arbitration at a news conference Thursday moments after The Associated Press broke the news, citing an official familiar with the situation who was not allowed to speak publicly before the statement. MacKinnon said he expects the trains will resume moving within days.
Ending the lockouts is the first step. Throughout the day Thu.