Strike authorized at CPR

LAVAL, Quebec: CPR workers have given their union authorization to strike.

Over 5,000 conductors, trainmen, yardmen, locomotive engineers and rail traffic controllers could walk off the job anytime after May 22.

The employees voted 95 percent in favour of taking the job action if their union, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) feels it necessary.

According to the Teamsters, “the railway continues to seek major concessions on pensions, work rules and wages. The Union’s issues concerning fatigue management and work/life balance also remain unresolved.”

The previous collective agreement expired on January 1, 2012, and negotiations began in October 2011.