Strike and Lockout Occurring on Canadian Railways

19 Aug Strike and Lockout Occurring on Canadian Railways

On August 18, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) issued a 72-hour strike notice to Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), announcing a potential walkout starting at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, August 22, if no labor agreement is reached.

Simultaneously, Canadian National Railway (CN) delivered a 72-hour lockout notice, following up on its plans announced on August 9. CPKC also stated it would implement a lockout on August 22. These notifications comply with Canadian law.

The TCRC issued the strike notice after CPKC announced it would lock out union members and alter the terms of their collective agreements. TCRC President Paul Boucher criticized CPKC’s actions, emphasizing the union’s need to protect members’ rights and safety.

CPKC, however, denied these claims, asserting that the current negotiations involve a status quo agreement with fair wage increases, without changes to work rules.

In a related development, CN’s lockout notice, effective August 22, followed unsuccessful negotiations. CN plans to continue its phased shutdown and implement additional embargoes starting August 19. The union argues that CN’s demands are regressive and pose safety risks, while CN contends that the union rejected multiple offers, including one that met current regulatory standards and included wage improvements.

If a work stoppage occurs, it is expected to impact commuter rail services in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, which rely on CPKC dispatching. Meaning that if there is cargo already being shipped on rail, it will stop where it is as of at 12:01 a.m. on August 22nd. Both sides remain at an impasse, with significant disruptions looming.