by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) has issued a 72-hour notice to withdraw their services, effective Thursday, 22 August, at 00:01 Eastern Time.
In a statement issued on Sunday, 18 August, the union highlighted that its demands remain outstanding.
Despite the strike notice, the TCRC said it would continue to bargain with the company and stay at the table as long as necessary to achieve an acceptable agreement.
The strike notice was issued after an announcement by the railroad Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) served notice to lock out TCRC, Train and Engine (T&E) and Rail Traffic Controller (RCTC) employees starting 22 August unless both parties "come to negotiated agreements or agree to binding interest arbitration."
Both railroads, CPKC and Canadian National, started taking steps to ensure a safe and orderly shutdown of railway operations:
- On Monday, 12 August, the railroads placed an embargo on traffic of all toxic inhalation and poisonous by inhalation dangerous goods originating in Canada or destined for a Canadian location took effect.
- On Thursday, 15 August, the CPKC stopped accepting loaded intermodal shipments classified as dangerous goods.
- On Saturday, 17 August, the embargo expanded to other dangerous goods, including all Rail Security Sensitive Materials (RSSM) and Time Sensitive Commodities.
- Effective Monday, 19 August, the embargo will be expanded to include all other dangerous goods shipments.
- Effective Tuesday, 20 August, embargos will be placed for all shipments originating in Canada, all shipments originating in the United States destined to Canada, and all carload traffic destined to the Canadian interchange.
Earlier, the Canadian government declined a request by Canadian National Railway (CN) to invoke a labour law to force acceptance of contract terms and avert a nationwide strike.
Development on Canada's West Coast
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (Canada) Local 514, comprised of ship and dock foremen, and the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) continued to address the union's demands against DP World.
According to the latest update, the hearings involving the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) will continue from 11 to 17 September.
In June, the ILWU Local 514 rejected a "final offer" from BCMEA. It then issued a strike notice at DP World's Centerm terminal in Vancouver Port but later withdrew the notice after the BCMEA requested "urgent interim intervention" from the CIRB.
The key issues of the dispute with DP World include wages and the port operator's plan to introduce automation with respect to container handling at the terminal.
