The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and global railway union leaders are throwing their full weight behind nearly 10,000 railway workers across Canada who have been brutally locked out by their employers, Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).
Despite staring down huge profits, the train operators have refused to negotiate a fair contract with the workers and their union, Teamsters Canada, instead demanding concessions that would jeopardise worker safety and erode working conditions.
"This is an outrageous attack on the very people who keep Canada's economy moving," declared David Gobé, Chair of ITF’s Railway Section. "Teamsters Canada members are standing strong against greed-driven corporations that prioritize profits over people. We, the ITF, will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them until a fair contract is signed.”
Teamsters Canada rail workers are the backbone of their country's transportation system, and they will not be bullied into accepting a race to the bottom on safety and working conditions. CN and CPKC must come to the bargaining table with a genuine offer that respects their employees."
Instead of bargaining in good faith, the companies have called on Canada’s federal government to intervene by imposing binding arbitration. After the federal Labour Minister rejected this call on 15 August, CN and CPKC gave notice that workers would be locked out at 00:01 on Thursday, August 22, unless they accepted the companies’ offers.
Prior to the lockout, the Teamsters Canada tabled multiple offers, none of which the union said were seriously considered by either company.
“Despite reaping billions in profits over the years, CN is demanding concessions that would drag working conditions back to another era,” said Paul Boucher, President of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference. “They don’t care about supply chains, farmers, or small businesses—their sole focus is on padding the pockets of their managers and shareholders, with little regard for the safety or well-being of employees.”
In response, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference has now served strike notice on CPKC and CN with members overwhelmingly voting in favour of strike action, refusing to back down from demands that include:
- Maintaining safety critical measures including fatigue provisions currently under threat by CN and CPKC
- Addressing staff shortages and chronic understaffing particularly of rail traffic controllers
- Opposing forced relocation clauses that would see workers ordered to move across the country for months at a time to fill labour shortages in remote areas of Canada
- Securing a fair contract that reflects the immense value they bring to these companies.
“We pledge our full solidarity with Teamsters Canada members on behalf of the millions of railway workers that we represent internationally. Your struggle is a just struggle and we are standing side-by-side with you,” said Noel Coard, ITF Inland Transport Sections Secretary.
“Railway workers around the world are fighting to ensure that our railways are safe and sustainable. We salute your refusal to compromise on safety and to turn back the clock on your working conditions.”
END
Media contact: media@itf.org.uk
About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve working lives; connecting trade unions from over 150 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice for nearly 16.5 million working women and men in the transport industry across the world.
