Canadian rail workers vote to authorize strike

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) announced that close to 10,000 workers at CN and CPKC have voted to authorize strikes at both companies, potentially impacting Canada’s supply chain. Unless an agreement can be reached, a work stoppage could occur as early as May 22.

“After six months of negotiations with both companies, we are no closer to reaching a settlement than when we first began,” says Paul Boucher, president of the TCRC. “Both companies are trying to strip our collective agreements of safety-critical rest provisions.”

At CN, conductors, locomotive engineers, and yard workers have voted 97.6 per cent to authorize a strike, with a 93.3 per cent turnout.

At CPKC, conductors, locomotive engineers, and yard workers have voted 99 per cent to authorize a strike, with a 91.7 per cent turnout.

And finally, rail traffic controllers – or RTCs – at CPKC have voted 95.3 per cent to authorize a strike, with a 96.6 per cent turnout.

“A simultaneous work stoppage at both CN and CPKC would disrupt supply chains on a scale Canada has likely never experienced,” says Boucher. “I would like to make it very clear that provoking a crisis on that scale has not been, and never will be, our goal. The reality is that we would very much like to avoid a work stoppage. With these results, we intend to go back to the bargaining table, work with federal mediators, and do everything in our power to reach a fair deal for our members. A deal that does not compromise on safety – or put profits over people.”