CN Strike Update: Talks stall; disruption continues

MONTREAL — No further talks are scheduled between the union representing striking CN workers and the railway after the two sides met for five hours this weekend, but walked away without a resolution.

“Just as we feared, CN had nothing to say to suggest that there might be any improvement in the rejected deal,” said United Transportation Union Canada’s Vice Presidents Bob Sharpe.

The union has previously agreed to a tentative deal in March, which ended a very disruptive two-week strike by 2,800 conductors and yard workers.

However, workers last week overwhelmingly rejected the one-year offer, which included a 3 percent wage increase, and $1000 signing bonus.

So far, CN is holding firm on its last offer. Shippers
are growing more concerned by the day, however.

Immediately following the results of the ratification vote, the UTU called for rotating strikes across the country.

CN quickly responded by locking out workers at several facilities. The railway said last week it would not up the ante on its previous offer. It also reminded employees “who are less interested in pensions” that “they have schedules.”

As was the case in the previous February strike, there are cracks showing in union solidarity. Groups of UTU members, including several dozen Halifax, ignored union orders to hit the bricks and returned to work.

The railway continues to serve its customers with management personnel performing the duties of locked out UTU members. In a press release, CN said it would return to the bargaining table, but no new talks were scheduled.

“It is clear from today’s talks,” said legal counsel Brian Shell, “that UTU has no choice but to turn up the heat in their selective and targeted strike action, as the strike continues.”

A growing chorus of business groups, including big box shippers; the Canadian Chemical Producers Association; the Canadian Wheat Board; and the Port of Vancouver, are concerned that renewed unrest will once aging lead to severe disruptions across the supply chain.

The federal government says it’s standing by with the same back-to-work legislation it tabled just before the previous strike came to and end.

However, a spokesman for Federal Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn reiterated to media her boss’s comments from last week that Ottawa prefers the two sides settle the issue themselves.