Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) have declined a proposal from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) to stagger negotiations by two weeks, according to a press release issued by the Teamsters.
It said the move was intended to prevent simultaneous work stoppages at both companies.
The union’s proposal aimed to mitigate the economic impact of a strike or lockout by allowing for more structured and productive negotiations, it said.
“Staggering the negotiations is a sensible solution that would minimize disruptions and allow all parties to address their concerns in a more structured and productive manner. CN and CPKC’s rejection of this proposal is a clear indication of how little they care about the economy and the supply chain, as well as their unwillingness to negotiate,” said Paul Boucher, President of TCRC.
Near unanimous strike mandate
A work stoppage was initially possible on May 22, following a near-unanimous strike mandate given by workers at both companies. However, the federal government temporarily suspended the union’s right to strike and asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to examine the question of essential services.
Until the CIRB delivers a ruling on whether any shipments are safety-critical in the event of a strike or lockout, negotiations are expected to continue.
Despite this, both CN and CPKC have been accused of halting negotiations and demanding significant concessions from the union. According to Boucher, “Claims by both CN and CPKC that they are trying to modernize or bring more work-life balance to the workforce are nothing less than preposterous.”
Union raises safety issue
The union argues that both companies are attempting to undermine rail safety by demanding changes in crew scheduling, hours of work, and fatigue management. These demands, the union contends, would force train crews to work longer hours, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.
CPKC has reportedly sought to remove all safety-critical fatigue provisions from the collective agreement, while CN has proposed keeping some language around fatigue only if workers agree to relocate across the country to address labour shortages, according to the Teamsters.
Boucher said these demands compromise safety and disrupt family life, stating, “Compromising on safety, or threatening to tear families apart for months or years, are not solutions to staffing problems.”
Understaffing
Rail traffic controllers (RTCs) at CPKC are chronically 25% understaffed, the union claimed, a situation exacerbated by a toxic work environment that has led to a net hiring loss since 2021. RTCs are crucial for coordinating the safe movement of both passenger and freight trains, and the union stresses that improving working conditions is essential for attracting more workers.
“Rail workers keep our economy running by keeping the supply chain fluid and goods moving to their destinations despite all the challenges our members face from the carriers. Our members deserve better than being forced to compromise their safety for the profits of CN and CPKC,” concluded Boucher.
Teamsters Canada, representing over 125,000 members, is the country’s largest transportation and supply chain union and the largest union in the federally regulated private sector. They are affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents over 1.2 million workers in North America.