The  Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ruled on Saturday to allow imposing binding arbitration to end job action in Canada’s rail sector which supported Canadian Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon’s directive to assist the railroads and Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union parties in settling outstanding terms of their collective agreement.

The freight rail networks of Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) ceased operating on Thursday, Aug. 22, due to the railroads and Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) still gridlocked in their new labor contract negotiations. Labor Minister MacKinnon took action to end the lockout.  The rail services were able to restart that day.

The TCRC union, which threatened to strike CN today, said it will comply with the CIRB decision.   They will appeal the ruling to federal court.

Please note that the Canadian rail strike threat remains in place until the contracts between Canada’s two main railroads and the TCRC are reached.

John S. Connor will continue to monitor the possible resumption of work stoppages at the Canadian railroads if new contracts are not reached.