Talks between Canadian Pacific Rail (CP) and Teamsters Canada Rail Conference continue as Monday (March 21, 2022) marked day two of a full work stoppage following a lockout by CP.
More than 3,000 conductors and engineers at CP rail were forced to the picket lines on Sunday (March 20, 2022) after the two parties failed to reach a deal by midnight on Saturday (March 19, 2022).
A lockout is a work stoppage initiated by company management during a labour dispute. Unlike a strike, in which employees refuse to work, a lockout is initiated by the employer.
In Kenora, more than 30 CP members were out in full force in front of the CP Railyard on the picket line hoping for the two parties to come to a negotiated settlement or agree to binding arbitration.
Jeff Lockhart, a local Teamsters engineer chairman says included in the new contract he wants to see equal pensions no matter a person's seniority.
“We’re trying to get everyone on the same page,” Lockhart said. “We would like to see a pension increase, it hasn’t been adjusted since 2012. The company has been advertising mega-profits every quarter. It’s time for them to step up and help their employees out.”
Lockhart added that their contracts expired at the end of 2021 and negotiations have been ongoing since September.
He concluded by saying that in Kenora alone there are 85-90 CP Rail employees.
The union says wages and pensions are key to the contract talks but so is a dispute over whether a federally mandated break period can be taken on the road or has to be given when employees are at home.
Along with wages and pensions, another issue is working conditions that they said call into question the railway’s capacity to recruit and retain workforce members.
The company and union both blamed each other for causing the work stoppage, though both also said they were still talking with federal mediators on Sunday.
Following the lockout by CP Dave Fulton, TCRC spokesperson who is at the bargaining table released a statement on the negotiations.
“We are very disappointed with this turn of events. “Canadian Pacific management must be taken to task for this situation. They set the deadline for a lockout to happen tonight when we were willing to pursue negotiations. Even more so, they then moved the goalpost when it came time to discuss the terms of final and binding arbitration.”
On Wednesday (March 16, 2022) the company said it would lock out its conductors and engineers if a deal wasn't reached by midnight.
In their own statement, the Teamsters say in addition to the lockout their members are also on strike.
Industry leaders and politicians are urging Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan to end the labour dispute after 3,000 conductors, engineers, and train and yard workers were off the job over the weekend.
- With files from the Canadian Press