FRA Certification Helpline: (216) 694-0240

(The following story by Kevin Martin appeared on the Calgary Sun website on May 21.)

CALGARY — Striking Canadian Pacific Railway workers won’t be on the clock as they picket their employers’ Intermodal facility this weekend, a judge ruled yesterday.

Justice Rosemary Nation refused to grant a temporary injunction limiting the time pickets can block traffic in and out of the job site until a hearing next week.

Lawyer Stephanie Kwok argued there was a safety concern because striking workers have been blocking semi-trailers entering and leaving the yard for up to five minutes.

Kwok wanted blockades limited to no more than two minutes for each vehicle.

But, Nation agreed with local Teamsters lawyer Murray McGown there was no pressing need for such an order.

McGown said the blockades were an inconvenience to the company, which is to be expected in a labour dispute, not a safety concern.

He said there was no evidence to prove anything other than financial harm.

The company’s 3,200 track maintenance workers walked off the job Wednesday in a wage dispute.

A hearing to determine if the company will get an injunction limiting pickets is set for Wednesday.