Federal Government Rejects CN Request To Intervene in Labour Dispute Ahead of Potential Lockout
CN Railway Labour Dispute
The Canadian federal government has rejected a request from Canadian National Railway (CN) to intervene in a labour dispute between the company and its unionized employees.
Background
The dispute involves a disagreement over wages, benefits, and working conditions. The union representing the employees, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, has been negotiating with CN since May 2022.
Government Decision
In a statement, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said that the government will not intervene at this time. He encouraged both parties to continue negotiating and reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
Potential Impact
If a resolution is not reached, the union has authorized a strike to begin on May 1, 2023. A work stoppage could have a significant impact on Canada's economy, as CN is one of the country's largest railways.
Government's Role
The federal government has the authority to intervene in labour disputes under the Canada Labour Code. However, the government will typically only intervene if it believes that the dispute is causing or is likely to cause a serious disruption to the economy or public health and safety.
Next Steps
The union and CN are expected to continue negotiations in the coming weeks. If a settlement is not reached, the strike will commence as planned.
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