CP Rail stops work, farmers prepare for possible consequences
The company and the union blame each other for this Sunday's production stoppage.
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) operations came to a halt early Sunday morning. The company and the union blame each other.
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), a union organization of about 3,000 engineers, conductors, yard workers and other train workers, issued a release shortly before midnight. It said the Calgary railroad management was initiating a lockout.
But hours later, CPR issued a statement saying that while the company was still involved in contract negotiations with the help of federal intermediaries, TCRC had withdrawn its services and issued a press release misrepresenting the negotiations. It also added that the company was working with clients to wind down its operations across Canada with minimal negative consequences.
The union then issued a follow-up announcement, saying that in addition to the lockout, TCRC members were also on strike at CPR affiliates across the country, and pickets were held at various locations in the Canadian Pacific region.
The office of Federal Labor Secretary Seamus O'Regan noted that while the recess began, both sides were still at the table with mediators, and the parties were expected to continue working until they reached an agreement. More than two dozen outstanding issues in the dispute relate to wages, benefits and pensions.
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