The union representing Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway workers is seeking a strike mandate to back contract demands.
Three separate bargaining groups of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) began electronic voting on a strike mandate April 8, with the voting period scheduled to wrap up May 1. The mandate will allow the union to call a strike in the event it is deemed necessary, according to a March 28 bulletin on the TCRC website.
“The strike vote is an important part of the bargaining process and will provide the Union with a mandate to legally withdraw services in the event an agreement cannot otherwise be reached.”
Reports say the earliest a CN or CPKC strike or lockout could take place is May 22.
Contract talks with CN took place with federal mediators late last month, but TCRC reported no progress. Further sessions were held earlier this month, with subsequent talks scheduled for April 29 and 30 and then into May.
“The union remains available and willing to negotiate in good faith with the employer, but we are certainly not ready to eliminate the working conditions that have been negotiated over the past 100 years,” TCRC said.
The next scheduled dates for negotiations with CPKC, also with federal mediation and conciliation services, are set for April 23 and 24.
CN posted its latest contract offer to employees on April 12, adding that it remains its goal to work towards a deal that is “good for our employees, customers, and the economy.”
The CN offer can be seen here: https://www.cn.ca/en/news/2024/04/20240412-tcrc-update
