Unifor has announced plans to hold strike votes among its members following stalled negotiations with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). The union says the company has failed to make meaningful progress on key non-economic proposals.
“CPKC’s unwillingness to address the key concerns of our members is unacceptable,” said Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president. “Our members deserve a contract that respects their contributions and ensures fair and equitable working conditions.”
Talks began last month, with the latest round of discussions ending on November 29. According to the union, the employer has only committed to meeting during the final days of the conciliation period, January 24-28, raising concerns about CPKC’s commitment to reaching an agreement. Unifor had filed for conciliation in October after earlier rounds of bargaining made little headway.
Local 101R, representing approximately 1,200 workers at CPKC, plans to hold strike votes in the coming weeks. The local includes mechanics, labourers, diesel service attendants, and others who maintain the company’s fleet of locomotives and railcars.
Payne accused the railway of attempting to “create chaos” to pressure government intervention instead of negotiating a fair deal. “We won’t stand for that,” she said.
The union emphasized its readiness to continue bargaining but said progress is unlikely without a stronger commitment from CPKC. The conciliation deadline is January 28.
Unifor, which represents 320,000 workers across Canada, is the largest private-sector union in the country.
