A potential rail strike will not happen this month as rail companies and workers await a decision from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) said today.
In a statement, CPKC said the CIRB has requested submissions from CPKC, Canadian National (CN) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union, due May 21. The parties will have until the end of the month to file replies.
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“A legal strike or lockout cannot occur until the CIRB renders a decision,” CPKC said.
Seventy-two hours’ notice is then required before a strike can begin.
“CPKC has proposed to the TCRC that both parties agree on the services that should be maintained in the event of a strike or lockout,” the company said. “We believe this would eliminate the need for the CIRB referral process and bring much needed clarity regarding the timing of any potential strike or lockout.”
Based on precedent, if no maintenance of service agreement is reached, it’s unlikely the parties will be able to initiate a strike within the next 60 days, it added.
Earlier this month, rail workers from CN and CPKC voted overwhelmingly to strike as soon as May 22.
Late last week, the federal government said it had asked the CIRB to look at whether the strike would have safety implications.
The CIRB’s job is to “resolve workplace disputes and certain appeals that arise under the Canada Labour Code, the Status of the Artist Act and the Wage Earner Protection Program Act,” its website says.
There is no set timeline for the board to issue a decision.
CPKC said it would resume negotiations with the union on Friday with federal mediators present.
As most Canadian grain moves by rail, agriculture groups have said a strike would lead to mass disruption to the agricultural sector and the Canadian economy.
