- Canadian government forces rail lockout to end
- Both railways and the union will now undergo binding arbitration to resolve the dispute
- Railways operations expected to resume “within days”
- The strike posed threat to Canada’s economy due to its reliance on rail transport
Canadian government forces rail lockout to end
Ottawa, Canada – The Canadian federal government has intervened to resolve a labour dispute that halted operations of two major railways, potentially disrupting supply chains throughout North America.
After failing to reach a deal with the Teamsters union, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) locked out nearly 9,300 workers on Thursday.
To prevent further disruptions, the government intervened and ordered both sides to undergo binding arbitration. Labor Minister Steve McKinnon said that rail operations should resume within days.
“Workers, farmers, commuters and businesses rely on Canada’s railways everyday, and will continue to do so”
Labour Minister Steve McKinnon
“Workers, farmers, commuters and businesses rely on Canada’s railways everyday, and will continue to do so,” Labour Minister Steve McKinnon said. “It is the government’s duty and responsibility to ensure industrial peace in this critically vital sector.”
The strike posed a significant threat to Canada’s economy, as the country relies heavily on rail transport for exports. A prolonged dispute could have disrupted shipments of various goods, including grains, beans, potash, coal, and timber.