Leading business groups ask Liberals to send Air Canada pilot dispute to binding arbitration

Leading business groups ask Liberals to send Air Canada pilot dispute to binding arbitration

Dozens of Canadian business associations across the country have signed a letter urging the Liberal government to prevent Air Canada pilots from striking by sending the labour dispute to binding arbitration.  The letter — which was signed by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Retail Council of Canada, Food Producers of Canada and the Canadian Toy … Read more

Canada has a bill of rights for air passengers. What about train riders?

Canada has a bill of rights for air passengers. What about train riders?

A 10-hour delay on a Via Rail train in Quebec over the long weekend is raising questions about rail passengers’ rights in Canada — or the lack thereof. Passengers on a train from Montreal to Quebec City were left stranded as they ran out of food, water and working toilets when their train broke down … Read more

Rail decision could give bargaining companies advantage in other industries, union leader says

Rail decision could give bargaining companies advantage in other industries, union leader says

A decision obliging more than 9,000 Canadian rail workers to stay on the job is a win for the railways and could impact bargaining in other federally regulated sectors like aviation, the head of a Canadian rail workers’ union told Reuters. Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, also said the union would … Read more

Trudeau defends arbitration call that ended railway lockout during stop in Winnipeg

Trudeau defends arbitration call that ended railway lockout during stop in Winnipeg

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended his government’s move to call for binding arbitration and force an end to a work stoppage at the country’s two major railways, as some union leaders accused the government of taking away their bargaining rights. In a 15-minute speech in Winnipeg on Wednesday to a meeting of the International … Read more

CN, CPKC resume railway service Monday after work stoppage ends

CN, CPKC resume railway service Monday after work stoppage ends

Traffic at Canada’s two largest railways is slated to resume Monday as a rail work stoppage comes to an end following a Saturday decision from the federal labour board. Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City shut down railways last Thursday, locking out workers and disrupting freight traffic countrywide and commuter lines in … Read more

Federal labour board orders rail workers back on the job, imposes binding arbitration

Federal labour board orders rail workers back on the job, imposes binding arbitration

Freight trains must start rolling again first thing Monday morning, the federal labour board ruled on Saturday as it ordered thousands of rail employees back to work to end a bitter contract dispute that shut down the country’s two major railways. The decision by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) imposes binding arbitration on the … Read more

Teamsters union serves CN Rail with 72-hour strike notice as CPKC stoppage ongoing

Teamsters union serves CN Rail with 72-hour strike notice as CPKC stoppage ongoing

The Teamsters union has served Canadian National Railway (CN) with a 72-hour strike notice, hours after saying it was taking down picket lines and workers were returning to the job. “Please find this letter as official notice to the company of our intention to withdraw the services of our combined membership of approximately 6,500 members,” reads the notice … Read more

How Canada reached the brink of an unprecedented railway stoppage

How Canada reached the brink of an unprecedented railway stoppage

For the first time, Canada’s two main railway companies — Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City — are on the verge of a simultaneous labour stoppage that could inflict billions of dollars’ worth of economic damage. Why are both companies poised to stop? Contract talks between the Teamsters union and the companies usually take place … Read more

Canada Industrial Relations Board deems port strike vote illegal

Canada Industrial Relations Board deems port strike vote illegal

The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) says a strike vote taken by a union representing ship and dock foremen is illegal. The B.C. Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) said Friday that Local 514 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) had served a notice of intended strike action against DP World Canada that was set to begin on Monday … Read more

Railway workers at CN, CPKC vote to reauthorize strike but open to federal mediation, union says

Railway workers at CN, CPKC vote to reauthorize strike but open to federal mediation, union says

Union members at CN and CPKC railways have voted to reauthorize strikes at both companies if negotiated settlements can’t be reached. Teamsters Canada said in a statement Saturday that union members at both railways voted almost 99 per cent in favour of reauthorized strike action. The union said members previously voted in favour of strike … Read more