Canadian rail services shut down as CN, CPKC workers locked out

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********* rail services shut down as CN, CPKC workers locked out

Freight trains across Canada have come to a grinding halt and some commuter traffic is also suspended as thousands of workers at the country’s two main railway companies have been locked out despite efforts from the federal government to urge a deal to end their labour dispute.

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********* National Railway (CN) and ********* Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) said early Thursday that they had moved forward with their lockout notices and shut down services after negotiations with the Teamsters Canada Railway Conference (TCRC) union ******* to reach an agreement.

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it “has bargained in good ******, but despite our best efforts, it is clear that a negotiated outcome with the TCRC is not within reach.”

“The TCRC leadership continues to make unrealistic demands that would fundamentally impair the railway’s ability to serve our customers with a reliable and cost-competitive transportation service,” CPKC said.

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that the union did not respond to another offer in a final attempt to avoid a labour disruption.

“Without an agreement or binding arbitration, CN had no choice but to finalize a safe and orderly shutdown and proceed with a lockout,” the rail operator said.

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1:56
How rail work stoppage could affect ********* farmers, agriculture

TCRC, which represents roughly 10,000 employees at CN and CPKC, said despite months of negotiations, all parties “remain far apart” and “the main obstacles to reaching an agreement remain the companies’ demands, not union proposals.”

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This is the first time that a work stoppage has occurred simultaneously at CN and CPKC, which are responsible for the bulk of Canada’s freight train operations.

The impasse also affects tens of thousands of commuters in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, whose lines run on CPKC-owned tracks. Passenger trains cannot run on those rails without the locked-out traffic controllers to dispatch them.

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The railway shutdown, which had business groups, the agriculture sector, exporters and retailers concerned, could incur massive losses and cause supply chain disruptions in different industries that rely on the rail networks.

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Speaking to Global News on Wednesday, Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon said “significant issues” remained in negotiations between the two rail companies and unions.

“The economic consequences would be far-reaching, and the impact on everyday Canadians would be significant,” he said.

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1:46
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The rail companies and union have traded accusations of refusing to engage on certain sticking points, and mediators have been brought in to try and break the impasse over scheduling issues, relocation and safety concerns from workers.

“Throughout this process, CN and CPKC have shown themselves willing to compromise rail safety and tear families apart to earn an extra buck,” said TCRC president Paul Boucher in a statement.

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“The railroads don’t care about farmers, small businesses, supply chains, or their own employees. Their sole focus is boosting their bottom line, even if it means jeopardizing the entire economy.”

— with files from Global News’ Sean Boynton and Mackenzie Gray and The ********* Press. 

&copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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