Ottawa set to end strike at CN

February 22, 2007
22 February 2007
 
Ottawa set to end strike at CN
 
The following article is excerpted from the “National Post” edition of 21 February 2007.
 
The Minister of Labour said yesterday he is set to table legislation as early as today to bring an end to the 12-day strike that has crippled operations at Canadian National Railway Co.
Jean-Pierre Blackburn issued the warning following days of complaints from grain growers, chemical producers, automakers and port authorities -- all of whom argue the strike by 2,800 CN conductors and yard workers was hurting their operations.
 
The threat of back-to-work legislation was issued after Ottawa appointed one of its chief labour mediators, Elizabeth MacPherson, to get the two sides to achieve a consensus.
 
Mr. Blackburn said during Question Period yesterday the back-to-work legislation is "ready" to be brought before Parliament, and that the Montreal-based railway and the United Transportation Union had only a matter of "hours" to work out a deal.
 
Later, he told reporters the bill could be before the House of Commons as early as today.
"There are two different solutions actually that we see," Mr. Blackburn said. "Maybe both parties would agree to have a cool-off period and, you know, to go back work. Or they could find an agreement in the next few hours.
 
"But as government we have to act, and I will ask the support of the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois to support the government in this law. It is very important. We cannot allow our economy to stay in that kind of situation."
 
Both the NDP and Bloc have indicated they would oppose the bill. However, Stephane Dion, the Liberal Leader, did not rule out supporting the legislation, although he said he has yet to speak with his caucus.
 
With the Bloc and NDP pitted against the measure, the Conservative government would require the support of at least 29 Liberal MPs to ensure back-to-work legislation would pass.
 
Mr. Dion said he was surprised the Conservative government wants to act so quickly after appointing a mediator on Monday. "They didn't have the time to take a coffee together," Mr. Dion said of the mediator, CN and the UTU.
 
CN and UTU representatives, under the guidance of Ms. MacPherson, were in talks yesterday in Montreal in an effort to resolve wage and other issues related to working conditions.
"Clearly, we're interested in achieving a negotiated settlement with the UTU without government intervention," said Mark Hallman, a CN spokesman.
 

About 2,800 conductors and switching yard employees walked off the job more than a week ago, slowing down the railway's operations and causing shipment delays for customers. CN managers have been filling in for striking workers.


Topic(s): 
Canadian Economy & Politics
Information Source: 
Canadian News Channel
Document Type: 
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