Ottawa readies legislation to end Canadian...
April 17, 2007
17 April 2007
Ottawa readies legislation to end Canadian National strike
The following article is excerpted from the 16 April 2007 edition of “The Journal of Commerce”.
The … government plans to introduce legislation that would end the lockout and strike at Canadian National Railway.
Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn on Monday told reporters, "Now, it's time to act. Employers and many groups said they would like to see our government acting," he said, referring to an estimated $1 billion in lost exports during the two-week strike by CN's unionized conductors and yard workers in February.
There was no timeline on how long Parliament would take to act on a bill.
The rolling protests by the United Transportation Union and subsequent lockout by railroad management has affected eight terminals, most in the Vancouver area, including the Port of Vancouver.
After bargaining broke off April 14, the railroad on Monday said it would pursue regional contracts with the union….
The company invited the union back to the bargaining table to address and negotiate regional settlements, which union leadership rejected. …
No new talks are currently scheduled….