The union representing Canada’s two largest rail companies, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, has appealed a court order requiring workers to return to work after a lockout that began last week, marking a major clash at a critical juncture for the rail industry and the country’s economy.
On August 22, Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) workers began a brief lockout. The union alleged that the companies had bargained in bad faith over rest periods and shift scheduling, endangering rail safety. Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, said that CN and CPKC were driven by profit, disregarding rail safety and tearing families apart, and were endangering the economy. Boucher said the companies were only looking to increase profits and were ignoring small businesses, farmers and supply chains in the process.
Concerned about the negative impact of the prolonged lockout on the economy, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has requested that the Canadian Labour Relations Board (CIRB) issue a binding arbitration order and return workers to work. Although workers returned to work on August 26, the union has decided to appeal the decision. The union says the court rulings set a dangerous precedent and that the right to collective bargaining is a constitutional guarantee. The appeals are being filed with the Federal Court of Appeals of Canada, seeking to overturn the Minister’s order and the CIRB decision. The union argues that the CIRB failed to follow fair procedures and that workers’ freedom of association has been violated.
This process could be a significant turning point for the future of Canada’s workers’ rights and collective bargaining processes. The courts’ decisions could have long-term impacts on the rail industry and workers’ rights more broadly.
