CPKC, CN file notices of dispute in TCRC labor negotiations

Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CN have filed notices of dispute in their negotiations with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC).

CPKC has filed a notice of dispute with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service requesting the appointment of a federal conciliation officer to assist CPKC and TCRC's train and engine (T&E) and Rail Canada Traffic Controllers (RCTC) divisions in reaching negotiated collective agreements.

In Canada, the T&E division represents 3,200 locomotive engineers, conductors, and train and yard workers, and the RCTC division represents 80 rail traffic controllers at CPKC. The mediation and conciliation process is available under the Canada Labor Code to help employers and unions reach negotiated agreements.

Since September 2023, CPKC has been negotiating contracts with the T&E and RCTC divisions. The Class I has offered an agreement with wage and benefit increases, more schedule predictability and quality-of-life improvements for its T&E employees, CPKC officials said in a news release. The most recent collective bargaining negotiation session took place the week of Jan. 29. Both CPKC and the union divisions remain far apart on the issues, CPKC officials said.
 
The railroad's previous contracts with the divisions expired on Dec. 31, 2023, but they remain in effect under Canadian labor law until the parties reach new agreements.

Meanwhile, CN also filed for a notice of dispute. Its filing is in relation to negotiations with the TCRC, which represents approximately 6,000 conductors, conductor trainees, yard coordinators and locomotive engineers across CN's network in Canada.

"Recent regulatory changes have challenged crew availability and CN is proposing to address that issue through a modernization of the compensation model. A strong supply chain is good for all stakeholders, the economy, and our employees,” said Pat Whitehead, CN's executive vice president and chief network operating officer.