Saturday, August 10, 2024 Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has announced plans to issue a lockout notice to the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) – Train and Engine (T&E) division and TCRC – Rail Traffic Controller (RCTC) division. If a negotiated settlement or agreement on binding interest arbitration is not reached by August 22, CPKC intends to lock out employees starting at 00:01 ET on that date. The company emphasized its commitment to ongoing good faith negotiations.
This decision follows a ruling by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) last Friday, which concluded that no services need to be maintained during a railway strike or lockout to safeguard Canadian public health and safety. The CIRB also extended the cooling-off period by 13 days, now set to end on August 22. If no agreement is reached by then, a legal strike or lockout involving the TCRC – T&E or TCRC – RCTC divisions may ensue.
CPKC stressed the urgency of resolving the labor dispute to avoid prolonged uncertainty and ensure the continued service of the North American economy. The company urged the TCRC to accept its offer for binding interest arbitration to restore stability. Should the TCRC decline binding arbitration and negotiations fail to yield a resolution during the extended cooling-off period, CPKC will proceed with the lockout to protect Canada’s supply chains from significant disruptions, especially during the crucial fall peak shipping period.
The company warned that fu.