August 27 2024

In his first act as the newly appointed federal Minister of Labour, Steve MacKinnon ordered the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration on the labour dispute between rail workers and their employers. Workers employed by both the Canadian National railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway, members of the Teamsters Canada, have been in bargaining for months.

“This order is a blatant infringement on workers’ ability to negotiate a fair collective agreement,” said Bert Blundon, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). “Workers have the legal and constitutionally protected right to withdraw their labour. What Minister MacKinnon did was rip this decision right out the hands of workers.”

A major sticking point in negotiations has been the rail companies’ demands to force workers to work longer shifts, to cut rest periods by half, and to relocate workers. These changes would not only endanger the safety of workers, but of the public.

“I want to point out that it has been the Teamsters all along who have fought to protect their members and the public in railway safety,” added Blundon. “Their efforts at bargaining to improve the working conditions, and to prevent CN from forcing the relocation of workers thousands of kilometres from their families, should be supported by this government — not attacked.”

“For a Prime Minister who has said he ‘has deep faith in collective bargaining,’ his government’s interference is a blatant contradiction,” continued Blundon. “This decision is a threat to future bargaining — federally and provincially — and supports employers who are unwilling to negotiate a fair deal. The message to workers is that the federal government does not have their backs.”

Blundon further said that “I am told that the Teamsters will be appealing the ruling to the Federal Court. They can count on NUPGE to have their back in this challenge if they need it.”