Unifor has filed for conciliation with CN Rail following stalled negotiations and the employer’s notice to lay off at least 65 workers. The union hopes the involvement of a conciliator will help move discussions forward on key issues, according to a statement released on Friday.
“CN Rail came to the table with demands for concessions that would undermine our members’ rights and working conditions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Our mandate is clear: to improve the working conditions of our members, not to roll back hard-earned gains from previous rounds of bargaining.”
The talks began with challenges from the outset. Within 24 hours of the start of negotiations, CN Rail issued a notice to the union signalling its intention to lay off dozens of workers. The layoffs will affect Unifor members working in various roles across CN terminals and headquarters throughout Canada.
“This move to serve notice to the union to lay off members in the midst of negotiations is very telling,” Payne added. “My message to CN Rail is a clear one. We will not be intimidated by these tactics.”
Unifor, which represents 3,600 workers at CN Rail through Local 100 and Council 4000, is advocating for a collective agreement for its members, including rail car technicians, heavy-duty mechanics, machinists, electricians, and clerical staff.
Negotiations are ongoing.