(Bloomberg News circulated the following article on February 10.)
TORONTO — Canadian National Railway, the country’s largest railroad, said Saturday that its conductors had struck illegally after a midnight deadline on contract talks passed without agreement.
The company, which is based in Montreal, said on its Web site that managers would replace the 2,800 conductors and yard workers represented by the United Transportation Union and keep the railroad’s freight operations running. Commuter rail services in Toronto and Montreal will not be affected, it said.
The strike could disrupt shipments of metals, grain, vehicles and other cargo across the continent.
Canadian National said it would ask the Canada Industrial Relations Board to declare the strike illegal.