By Justin Franz
CALGARY — Canadian Pacific plans to lock out unionized train service employees at 12:01 a.m. March 20, if the railroad and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference cannot forge a new labor contract before then.
The news of a lock-out comes weeks after 3,000 TCRC members who work for CP voted overwhelmingly to go on strike if a deal couldn’t be set in stone. The union announced that it could go on strike on March 16, however, so far it has not issued notice for them to walk off the job. Now, CP appears to be doing it for them.
In a statement, CP officials suggested that a lock-out would force the union to agree to a new contract.
“For the sake of our employees, our customers, the supply chain we serve and the Canadian economy that is trying to recover from multiple disruptions, we simply cannot prolong for weeks or months the uncertainty associated with a potential labor disruption,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. “The world has never needed Canada’s resources and an efficient transportation system to deliver them more than it does today. Delaying resolution would only make things worse. We take this action with a view to bringing this uncertainty to an end.”
CP officials have said they have been negotiating in good faith and this week made an offer that addressed many of the union’s concerns. However, the railroad said the union rejected that deal. The union has said the main issues at hand include disagreements on wages, benefits, and pensions.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
