Teamsters challenge binding arbitration ruling for CN and CPKC workers

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) has filed appeals challenging the binding arbitration being imposed on workers at CN and CPKC, which it claims strips the union of its right to collectively bargain.

“These decisions, if left unchallenged, set a dangerous precedent where a single politician can bust a union at will,” said Paul Boucher, president of TCRC. “The right to collectively bargain is a constitutional guarantee. Without it, unions lose leverage to negotiate better wages and safer working conditions for all Canadians. We are confident that the law is on our side, and that workers will have their voices heard.”

CPKC and CN said its railway operations would restart in Canada by 12:01 a.m. ET Aug. 26 following the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) order requiring rail companies to resume operations and TCRC employees to resume their duties.

The union has filed four separate appeals with the Federal Court of Appeal, challenging the minister’s referrals and CIRB’s decisions at both CN and CPKC. The appeals argue, among other things, that workers’ Charter rights were violated.

CIRB’s order was issued following the Canadian Minister of Labour’s direction on Aug. 22 pursuant to his authority under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code.

The CIRB order ended months of uncertainty and disruption for the Canadian economy and North American supply chains. CPKC anticipated that it would take several weeks for the railway network to fully recover from this work stoppage and a period of time beyond that for supply chains to stabilize.

The union has requested that the court expedite its appeal proceedings.