CP workers on strike

A strike at Canadian Pacific started shortly after midnight on May 23, affecting the VIA Rail passenger service between Sudbury and White River.

CP workers and the company were unable to reach an agreement despite last-minute negotiations right to the strike deadline.

“We have made every reasonable effort to get a settlement,” Doug Finnson, vice-president of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), said in a press release. “Every union member knows how important the outstanding issues are. We will not walk away from the negotiation table.”

TCRC remains committed to do the best for its members, he said. The strike has now started, but talks were expected to resume first thing in the morning.

“We would like to thank Minister Raitt once again, as well as the conciliators who tried their best to avert the strike,” Finnson added. “We are as concerned for CP's corporate customers as we were for the commuters."

The Teamsters Union represents 125,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.

VIA Rail Canada services throughout Canada are operating normally, despite the strike and operational shutdown at CP, with the exception of Sudbury to White River and Ottawa to Brockville.

VIA is providing alternate transportation to passengers on both services.

Details will be posted on viarail.ca, including any changes as the situation evolves.

Posted by Arron Pickard