Canada labor board orders rail employees back to work, imposes binding arbitration

Canada’s federal arbitrator has ordered staff on the nation’s two main railroads again to work, imposing binding arbitration following a piece stoppage that halted freight shipments since Thursday morning.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board agreed Saturday to Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon’s request for arbitration in addition to an extension of the employees’ expired contracts, clearing the best way for the railways to renew operations beginning Monday.

Canadian Nationwide Railway (NYSE:CNI) and Canadian Pacific Kansas Metropolis (NYSE:CP) shut down operations on Thursday after talks with the Teamsters Canada Rail Convention failed; after MacKinnon requested arbitration, CN trains started working early Friday, however CPKC staff went on strike, and a strike discover was issued to CN by the Teamsters for this morning.

The Teamsters union stated it’s going to adjust to the board’s choice however plans to enchantment the ruling in courtroom, arguing it “units a harmful precedent” and that “the rights of Canadian staff have been considerably diminished.”

CN Rail (CNI) stated it’s disillusioned an settlement couldn’t be reached on the bargaining desk, however it’s “glad that this order successfully ends the unpredictability that has been negatively impacting provide chains for months.”

CKPC (CP) stated it expects to “take a number of weeks for the railway community to totally get better from this work stoppage and a time frame past that for provide chains to stabilize.”