CN 'no closer' to TCRC labor deal

CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) are no closer to a deal, the Class I announced yesterday.

“The uncertainty around the timing of a resolution and the prospect of a labor disruption are hurting CN, our employees, our customers and the Canadian economy,” CN officials said in a negotiations update. “The minister of labor’s request to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) on the issue of essential services is adding to this uncertainty.”

TCRC is is involved in contract negotiations with both CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City. Recently, the federal minister of labor referred the situation to the CIRB to determine if a TCRC strike at CN and CPKC would cause harm to public health or safety. The CIRB’s involvement means that a work stoppage cannot occur until the board issues a decision. CN recently called for binding arbitration in its negotiations with TCRC.

But last week, the TCRC announced that CN and CPKC rejected its proposal to stagger negotiations with both companies by two weeks. That step would avoid simultaneous work stoppages at both railroads, significantly reducing the economic impacts from any disruptions to the supply chain from a strike or lock out, TCRC officials said.

In yesterday’s update, CN said the union’s proposal for staggered negotiations is not a way forward and would not resolve the uncertainty.

“It only prolongs the risk of a labor disruption over an extended period of time,” CN officials said. “So, how can we reach a settlement faster, while respecting both parties’ right to advance their position and avoiding negative impacts on CN railroaders, customers, and the economy? We think binding arbitration is the answer.”

TCRC represents about 6,000 conductors, conductor trainees, yard coordinators and locomotive engineers across CN’s network in Canada.