CN workers strike Monday, vowing to fight Canada's push to end rail closure | Labour Rights News

The union representing Canadian National Railway (CN) workers is announcing a strike next week, posing a new threat to the economy after previously announcing plans to oppose a government decision to end an unprecedented rail halt.

The Teamsters union announced Friday, just days after returning to work, that conductors, train drivers and other workers at Montreal-based CN would go on strike on Monday.

The announcement is the latest twist in a labour dispute at Canada's two largest railroads. More than 9,000 union members were locked out on Thursday, triggering a simultaneous rail halt that business groups say could cause hundreds of millions of dollars in economic damage.

Citing the threat to the economy, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon called on the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) on Thursday to order an end to the strike and to impose binding arbitration on the union, CN and competitor Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPK).

Canada, the world's second-largest country by area, is heavily dependent on rail for the transport of a wide range of goods and commodities. Business and agricultural associations are urging Ottawa to act quickly.

Francois Laporte, president of Teamsters Canada, said MacKinnon's announcement was unacceptable.

“The best way to conclude a contract is at the negotiating table. We do not believe that a third party [should] decide what our working conditions will be like,” he told reporters at a vigil outside CPKC's headquarters in Calgary.

He said that if an order to return to work is issued, “our people will continue to strike. We will continue to be on the streets, so operations will not resume. It will not be business as usual for both companies.”

In their strike announcement, the Teamsters said they were still willing to negotiate with CN over the weekend and did not see any problems as insurmountable. The union and the company disagree on issues such as safety and working hours.

There was no immediate comment from a Canadian government official.

A CN spokesperson said train service had resumed and the company's plans to resume operations were underway.

“We are focused on getting back to work,” said CN spokesman Jonathan Abecassis. “The Teamsters are focused on getting back to the picket lines.”

Persistent tensions

A lockout at CPKC has yet to be officially lifted after Ottawa took the initiative Thursday to end the work stoppage, which was the first time that both railroads have been affected simultaneously.

MacKinnon said Thursday he expects the CIRB to make a decision in the near future. Union and railroad officials met with the CIRB, an independent panel, on Friday morning, the Teamsters said on the social media site X.

Teamsters spokesman Chris Monette had said by phone earlier that day that the union would challenge the constitutionality of the minister's referral, but did not provide details.

MacKinnon had expressed confidence that his recommendation would stand up in court, given the extensive powers granted to him under the country's labor law.

“I can't imagine it would be more practical or appropriate than for two state railways to cease operations. So we are very, very confident about the path we have chosen here,” he said.

Monette said CN workers would return to work on Friday, although the union has not yet received a return-to-work protocol from the railroad company.

“The return to work this morning will be chaotic,” he said.

Monette said members working for CPKC would not return to work because the railroad had not yet ended its lockout.

CPKC said late Thursday that it was preparing to resume operations in Canada and would provide further details on the timeline once the CIRB's order is received.