Labour negotiations between Canada’s largest railway, Canadian National (CN), and the Teamsters union have broken down. Union leaders warned a strike or lockout could occur starting Oct. 28
In a press release Monday (October 14) Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) said it had offered to continue conciliation, which had ended on October 7. “Unfortunately, CN’s management rejected the union’s proposal and as a result, there could be a strike or a lockout on October 28.”
The union represents 3,300 conductors, trainmen, yardmen and traffic coordinators.
“We’re extremely disappointed by CN’s refusal (to extend the mediation period),” said union spokesperson Roland Hackl. “The railway uses an old tactic: pointing a gun to its workers’ heads to force them to make concessions.”
According to the union’s press release “what these concessions would mean is that CN workers would be required to work longer hours with less rest time in between trips, which flies in the face of scientific research on fatigue management.”
More information:
Teamsters Union press release – Negotiations between Teamsters and CN derail – here
Canadian National Railways website – www.cn.ca
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