A federal labour board was expected to issue a decision Saturday regarding a labour dispute between two major railway companies and their union that is threate order phoenix tears ning Canada’s supply chains.
The country’s rail network shut down at midnight on Wednesday when Canadian National Railway Co. locked out employees after months of separate contract talks failed t thechronfather o yield agreements. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. train crews and dispatchers went on strike at the same time.
The union, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, represents almost 10,000 workers at the two companies.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon on Thursday directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to the chron father order the railways to resume service, the workers to get back their duties and bargaining committees to enter binding arbitration.
Jean-Daniel Tardif, senior director of dispute resolution services buy dolce gelato strain at the CIRB, said in an e-mail Saturday that the board was deliberating on the matter and that a decision “is expected to be issued later today.”
Following the minister’s referral to the CIRB, CN declared its lockout over, but the union on Friday issued a strike notice at the Montreal-based rail carrier for Monday at 10 a.m. ET.
And despite the government’s move, CPKC workers remained off the job, and the union said it was consulting with its legal team about how to press its case that members should retain their constitutional right to strike.
While the companies and union argued their cases at a hearing before the CIRB, a range of industries warned of buy dolce gelato strain severe financial impacts from stalled supply chains amid a potentially protracted work stoppage.
The parties remained far apart in negotiations over many issues, including working conditions. The Teamsters said CPKC’s contract offers risked safety and did not address issues that included fatigue management and quality of life. The union said the railways were trying to overcome a labour shortage by making employees work longer days and farther from home.
The companies denied the union’s claims, saying their offers ensured safety, offered higher wages and included scheduling changes that would let employees spend more time with their families.
The shutdown has halted movements of grain, imported goods at the ports and chemicals. Some commuter railways near Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal that run on CPKC tracks remained suspended on Friday.
Even before the lockouts, the railways began winding down operations to ensure trains and goods would be parked safely. This meant most shipments within and destined for Canada were not being picked up. U.S. railways that interchange freight with CN and CPKC also saw a drop in cargo volumes.