For Canada’s freight train engineers, conductors, trainmen and yardmen, it’s all about safety, about getting enough sleep, and getting a rest after 10 hours of continuous work, and that’s why 93% of them voted to strike if Canadian Pacific Railway does not agree.
The union representing the 3, 300 workers wants a negotiated settlement, and is meeting with company representatives in Montreal with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services of the Canadian government.
The Labour Minister Kellie Leitch says she’s encouraged there are negotiations. The Chief Operating Officer of CP, Keith Creel, says CP managers will be ready to take over if a strike starts this weekend. And the union is still hoping the company will address the key issues of these contract negotiations: safety questions.
During a break in the negotiations Wednesday (February 11), RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda spoke to Douglas Finnson, the president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference which represents the CP workers.
ListenMore information:
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference update – Teamsters Canada Rail Conference sets a deadline to achieve a negotiated contract… here
Reuters – Canada labour minister says encouraging parties at CP Rail to bargain – here
CBC News – CP Rail encourages office workers to learn how to drive trains – here
Reuters – CP Rail faces a weekend strike; says it is ready – here
Update:
RCI – Strike ends, as government threatens legislation and opposition focuses on rail safety – here
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