On Aug. 24, Canada’s federal labour board ordered the Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPK) railways, along with over 9,000 workers, to return to work and enter binding arbitration to produce a new contract. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) acted on the government’s referral when making the decision.
However, CIRB has not designated railways as an “essential service,” a status that would give legal standing for the government to force staff back to work.
As a result, the Teamsters union has filed appeals with the Federal Court of Appeal, challenging the government’s referrals and CIRB’s binding arbitration order, arguing they violate workers’ rights to collectively bargain and strike.
