Unifor, which represents CN's car technicians and heavy duty mechanics among other workers, said its current collective agreement with the rail operator is set to expire Dec. 31, 2024. | File photo

New labour negotiations initiated at CN

REUTERS — Unifor has initiated labour negotiations with Canadian National Railway, representing more than 3,600 workers. The union said its bargaining priorities include an improvement in wages, addressing concerns about the pension plan and job security for its members. Unifor, which represents CN’s car technicians and heavy duty mechanics among other workers, said its current […] Read more

A law professor from the University of Manitoba says recent contract talks between the country’s two major railways and their union were doomed from the start because labour negotiations are no place to settle issues such as worker fatigue.  |  Paul Yanko photo

Rest rules a matter for legislation: law professor

University of Manitoba academic says fatigue management should never have been on the rail dispute bargaining table

Glacier FarmMedia – A University of Manitoba labour law professor says employee fatigue management should be the government’s purview, not an issue dealt with in labour negotiations. Scheduling and fatigue management were among the major sticking points in the recent conflict between Canada’s railways and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, the union representing the two […] Read more

Labour strife hitting both of Canada’s major railways at the same time is unprecedented in this country.  |  Paul Yanko photo

Railway labour dispute takes twists and turns

The Canadian agriculture sector is taking stock after the labour dispute between Canada’s two main railways and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference union came to a rolling boil last week. Just after midnight Aug. 22, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and the Canadian National Railway made good on their threat to lock out employees. The TCRC […] Read more


Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, said the union would work with other labour groups as it mounts a legal challenge to a Saturday decision that halted work stoppages at the country's two largest railways and imposed arbitration. | Screencap via cpkcr.com

Canadian rail decision is a win for companies, union leader says

MONTREAL, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A decision obliging more than 9,000 Canadian rail workers to stay on the job is a win for the railways and could impact bargaining in other federally regulated sectors like aviation, the head of a Canadian rail workers’ union told Reuters. Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, also said the union […] Read more

"Despite the Labour Minister's referral, there is no clear indication that the CIRB will actually order an end to the labour dispute at CPKC," the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) said in a statement this morning. | CPKC photo

Teamsters issue strike notice to CN, CPKC stoppage ongoing

UPDATED: 0930 CST – August 23, 2024 – Glacier FarmMedia – The union representing Canadian National workers has issued a strike notice to the company, effective Monday. This comes after the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) said this morning that workers at Canadian National (CN) would be headed back to work today. Related stories: WP […] Read more



At 12:01 AM EDT this morning, after negotiations that began last year failed to bring about a resolution to the dispute, Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City announced at that they would lock out their employees who are members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC). The move affects roughly 9,000 employees at the two companies. | File photo

Canada’s railways grind to a halt

The lockout of rail workers by Canada’s two major railways has begun. At 12:01 AM EDT this morning, after negotiations that began last year failed to bring about a resolution to the dispute, Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City announced at that they would lock out their employees who are members of the […] Read more