(The Canadian Press circulated the following article on March 15.)
MONTREAL — Freight rail service on Canadian National lines will continue despite a possible strike by locomotive engineers and signals employees, the railway said Tuesday.
The rail carrier said it received a ruling from the Canada Industrial Relations Board that it can legally lock out workers and its unions, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, can strike as long as either side gives 72 hours’ notice.
“CN remains optimistic that it can secure new agreements with the TCRC and IBEW without labour disruption, and it is talking to the unions about dates to resume bargaining,” CN said in a release.
The unions represent about 1,750 engineers and 630 signallers.
“CN is committed to reaching agreements with the TCRC and IBEW, but will maintain freight operations in the event of strikes or a lock-out,” the company said.
Late last month, CN (TSX:CNR) signed new four-year contract with about 2,250 track maintenance workers and reached a tentative contract in mid-February with about 2,600 conductors, yard service employees and traffic co-ordinators. The union said the ratification vote should be completed by April 25.
The railway kept operating during a 30-day strike last year by 5,000 Canadian Auto Workers members who manage train yards and other functions, but backlogs and lost business cut CN’s profit by $24 million.