Friday, August 23, 2024 Canadian National Railway (CN) has officially resumed operations after ending its lockout at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday.
This development marks a significant step towards normalizing rail services in Canada, following the recent labor disruptions that have affected the country’s major railroads. However, the situation at Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) remains unresolved, with its work stoppage continuing as the labor dispute awaits a decision from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). The lockout at CN, which had disrupted rail operations and posed challenges to the supply chain, was lifted following a directive from Canada’s Minister of Labour and Seniors, Steven MacKinnon.
The railway company announced its decision to end the lockout on Thursday evening and has since implemented its recovery plan to restart operations. According to a statement from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), CN workers began returning to their posts on Friday morning. The union and CN had met with the CIRB on Thursday, with another meeting scheduled for 10 a.
m. ET Friday, aiming to resolve the remaining issues in the labor dispute. While CN has moved forward with resuming its operations, the situation at CPKC remains in a state of uncertainty.
The work stoppage at CPKC continues, pending an order from the CIRB. The union expressed frustration in a Friday morning statement, noting that despite the Labour Minister’s referral, there is no clear indication from the CIRB that it will order an end to the labor dispute at CPKC. A spokesperson for the CIRB confirmed that the board is addressing the matter with urgency, following the directive from Minister MacKinnon.
The CIRB’s decision is crucial, as trains at CPKC cannot resume operations until the board issues its ruling. The labor disruptions at Canada’s major railroads prompted government intervention, with Minister MacKinnon directing the CIRB to impose final binding arbitration. This move is intended to expedite the resolution of the labor disputes and ensure that new collective agreements are reached between the TCRC and both railroads.
CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel expressed regret over the government’s intervention, stating, “We fundamentally believe in and respect collective bargaining; however, given the stakes for all involved, this situation required action.” Creel emphasized that the government’s actions were necessary to protect Canada’s national interests. As the situation develops, stakeholders across the supply chain are closely monitoring the CIRB’s upcoming decision, which will determine the next steps for CPKC and the potential full resumption of rail services across Canada.
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