Workers at both of Canada’s major railroads are still without a contract, but not on strike as a federal government tribunal is preparing to begin hearing submissions on the dispute.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has been asked by Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan to look at whether a disruption in rail service could have a negative impact on the country in regards to public safety. The request from the federal labour minister came after workers at both Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CPKC) on May 1 voted to authorize strike action.
Before the dispute was referred to the CIRB, workers were in a position to walk off the job on May 22. But a strike cannot start now until the board issues a decision.
Since the dispute was referred to the tribunal, there does not appear to have been any progress made in negotiations between the two sides. CPKC reported no progress in its most recent round of bargaining, and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) also recently put out a statement criticizing CN Rail for making its most recent offer public, an offer the union called inadequate.
Jean-Daniel Tardif, senior director of operations and dispute resolution at the CIRB, said the two parties have until May 31 to make their written submissions. The submissions will primarily outline their current positions in regards to the dispute.
Tardif added that a case management conference was set to be held on May 27 in Ottawa.
“We will meet the party at that time and discuss next step(s),” he said.
A number of topics can be addressed at the case management conference, including who may be called as a witness at a future hearing.
This is from the 27 May 2024 edition of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.