Teamsters authorize strikes at CN, CPKC

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference yesterday announced that close to 10,000 workers at CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City have voted to authorize strikes at both Class Is. Unless the parties can reach an agreement, a work stoppage would occur as early as May 22, according to a Teamster Canada news release.

CN conductors, locomotive engineers and yard workers have voted 97.6% in favor of a strike, while 99% of CPKC conductors, locomotive engineers and yard worker voters have approved a strike. In addition, CPKC rail traffic controllers have voted 95.3% in favor of a strike.

"After six months of negotiations with both companies, we are no closer to reaching a settlement than when we first began," said TCRC President Paul Boucher.

"In an effort to reach a negotiated agreement, CN suggested a simplified, alternative path to achieve a deal prior to the earliest possible deadline of a strike on May 22," CN officials said in a website post. "[D]espite five months of consistent discussions, the TCRC has made very few concessions towards a negotiated agreement and has been unclear on what it is seeking for employees other than to continue focusing on a list of approximately 200 local and regional demands unrelated to a modern consolidated agreement benefiting employees and customers alike."

Meanwhile, the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2004 has formally ratified a new three-year collective agreement with CN. The USW represents about 2,500 track and bridge employees at the railroad.

The agreement — which expires Dec. 31, 2026 — includes wage increases each year, enhancements to eligible expense reimbursements and improved medical, dental and health-care benefits. It also includes measures to increase productivity, reduce the need to outsource work to contractors by creating new positions within the company and allowing more workers to move outside their region when needed.

"[The agreement] is a testament to our commitment to invest in our people, contributing to a more productive environment with more opportunities to grow within the organization," said Patrick Whitehead, CN's executive vice president and chief network operating officer.