(The Canadian Broadcasting Company posted the following article on its website on June 18.)
CALGARY — About 100 CPR rail traffic controllers have gone on strike and spent the lunch hour picketing in front of the company’s downtown offices.
Talks between the union and the company broke down Wednesday morning, resulting in a simultaneous strike and lock-out. A picket line is also set up at the Aylth yards.
The controllers, who manage train traffic on the rails, are looking for wage increases of about $2 an hour to bring them in line with their CN counterparts. Mid-level CP controllers make about $28 an hour right now.
Most of the rail traffic controllers are based in Calgary, the rest are in Montreal.
The company says managers are handling controller duties and train traffic hasn’t been greatly affected. CP Rail announced Wednesday it was cutting 820 jobs across the country over the next three years.