Sunday 15 February 2015

Failed talks between government and Canadian Pacific workers freeze service in tracks.


Canadian Pacific services across the country will suffer as it will be operating without more than 3,000 members after Teamsters went on strike following failed contract negotiations.

According to a CBC article, the labour union, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, had till 12 a.m. Sunday, February 15 to reach contract terms favourable to both parties to avoid going on strike.

Labour and Status of Women Minister Kellie Leitch, whose involved aimed at bargaining and closing a deal, was disappointed at the results.

A Teamsters press release accuses the government of not having done anything to stop American citizens from taking over work of the Canadian labour union members.

Douglas Fennison, president of Teamsters, said the strike aims at achieving a breakthrough to the culture of fear set up by CP management, a healthy and safe work environment and attaining progressive fatigue countermeasures in the rail business.

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz commented that the government would, once again, have to look at all available options to solve this deadlock.

A similar strike in 2012, forced the government to pass legislation to bring the members back to work. It is estimated by the government that such strikes cost losses of $540 million every week.

As CBC reports, Unifor, a labour organization whose members conduct safety inspections, maintenance and repairs on locomotives, reached an agreement before the deadline.

Teamsters has encouraged the government to keep negotiations open.

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