Canada Industrial Relations Board Halts Railway Work Stoppages

The Canada Industrial Relations Board has halted work stoppages at the country's largest railways, ending a severe service disruption. This decision was prompted by a request from Canada to resolve an impasse between Teamsters members and Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, affecting major freight transportation.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board issued an order on Saturday to halt work stoppages at Canada's major railway companies, signaling an end to an unprecedented disruption. This independent labor tribunal's decision follows Canada's request last Thursday to resolve stalled negotiations involving over 9,000 Teamsters members and the key freight rail carriers, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).

The board's mandate represents the latest development in the ongoing labor disputes at CN and CPKC, which had locked out their Teamsters members on Thursday, resulting in a nationwide rail stoppage. Business groups had warned that this disruption could cause economic damage amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.

As Canada heavily relies on railways for transporting essential goods, the labor board's directive prevents a planned strike by CN workers, set for Monday at 10 a.m. ET. Even though Teamsters members remain locked out at CPKC, the union has agreed to follow the board's direction and plans to challenge it legally if necessary.

Canada's Labour Minister, Steven MacKinnon, conveyed confidence that the CIRB's decision would withstand legal scrutiny, citing broad powers under the national labor code. The dispute involves contentious issues around scheduling and shift durations, with proposals for extending work hours from 10 to 12 hours, facing strong opposition from the union.

(With inputs from agencies.)