Montréal, August 22, 2024 – Despite months of good faith negotiations on the part of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, parties remain far apart, and both CN and CPKC have began their lockout of 00:01 today.
“Throughout this process, CN and CPKC have shown themselves willing to compromise rail safety and tear families apart to earn an extra buck. The railroads don’t care about farmers, small businesses, supply chains, or their own employees. Their sole focus is boosting their bottom line, even if it means jeopardizing the entire economy,” said Paul Boucher, President, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
Over the past several days, the Teamsters have put forward multiple offers, none of which were seriously considered by either company.
The main obstacles to reaching an agreement remain the companies’ demands, not union proposals.
Neither CN nor CPKC has relented on their push to weaken protections around rest periods and scheduling, increasing the risk of fatigue-related safety issues. CN also continues to demand a forced relocation scheme, which could see workers ordered to move across the country, tearing families apart in the process.
Despite the lockout, the Teamsters remain at the bargaining table with both companies.
Rail traffic controllers at CPKC will continue working until 00:01 mountain time.
The Teamsters represent close to 10,000 workers at both CN and CPKC.
At over 130,000 members, Teamsters Canada is the country’s largest transportation and supply chain union. It’s also the largest union in the federally regulated private sector. They are affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents over 1.2 million workers in North America.
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Media requests:
Christopher Monette
Director of Public Affairs
Teamsters Canada
Cell. : 514-226-6002
[email protected]
