Harper Gov’t Introduces Back-to-Work Legislation In CN Rail Strike
Posted December 1, 2009 8:30 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The federal government introduced legislation Monday to end the CN Rail strike, which it called a threat to the lacklustre economic recovery.
It’s expected the back-to-work bill will pass within days and send outstanding issues to binding arbitration.
Labour Minister Rona Ambrose said she would have preferred to see a negotiated end to the walkout which began early Saturday. But she said she had to act after weekend talks failed.
“This is more than a private dispute between CN Rail and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference,” she said.
“It has serious repercussions for the national economy at a time when Canada’s recovery from the global recession is still fragile.”
CN Rail and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference worked with federal mediators for months, but couldn’t find enough common ground for an agreement.
Since 1,700 locomotive engineers hit the picket lines, qualified engineers from management have been trying to keep the trains running
CN Rail, the country’s largest railway, is offering a 1.5 per cent wage increase and seeking to raise the maximum distance engineers can travel in one month by 800 kilometres to 6,900 kilometres.
The union argues the hike in the distance cap would require some staff to work seven days a week, and cause layoffs.
CN Rail says that’s not true. It says that under the new regime, engineers would work between 16 and 18 days per month, up slightly from the current level of between 15 and 17 days.
The company says it’s simply requiring engineers to work the same number of miles as conductors, noting they will be paid for their work at adjusted rates.
Ambrose urged all parties in the Commons to support the legislation.
In a statement Sunday, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff urged the government to protect businesses and shippers who rely on the cross-country rail network.
