Canada's labor board to review impact of potential rail strike at CN, CPKC

The Canadian government has asked a labor board to review whether a potential strike by thousands of rail workers at CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City would cause harm to the safety or health of the public.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference earlier this month announced that close to 10,000 workers at CN and CPKC voted to authorize strikes at both Class Is. Unless the parties can reach an agreement, a work stoppage could occur as early as May 22.

Minister of Labor Seamus O'Regan has asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to review the situation, which may push back the potential work stoppage. The minister's action was prompted by industrial groups concerned about a potential stoppage of rail service.

As part of its review, the board has asked affected groups and organizations to submit comments on the potential impact should a strike occur, according to a board press release. For example, the board is seeking details regarding the movement of propane on the CPKC network and alternatives that CPKC clients have for propane delivery in the event of a strike.

In addition, the board will review details about the movement of heavy fuel, propane, food and water treatment materials needed in remote communities and throughout Canada on CN's network, and what alternatives, if any, CN's clients have for delivery of such products.

The board also has asked for more information about the level of services or operations that must continue in the event that it finds that the transportation of those products is necessary to prevent an "immediate and serious danger" to the safety or health of the public.

Meanwhile, CN announced that the tentative agreement between CNTL, a CN subsidiary dedicated to first-and-last-mile trucking container pickup and deliveries, and owner-operators affiliated with Unifor has been ratified. The four-year agreement covers approximately 750 owner-operators under contract with CNTL in Canada until Dec. 31, 2027.