Teamsters challenge minister's move to resume rail service as shutdown drags on
CTV
Rail workers fought back Friday against the federal government's move to get them back on the job, with a fresh strike notice and a regulatory challenge making it unclear when most freight traffic will resume.
Rail workers fought back Friday against the federal government's move to get them back on the job, with a fresh strike notice and a regulatory challenge making it unclear when most freight traffic will resume.
At Canadian National Railway Co., trains began to move again Friday morning as workers started to return -- even as the Teamsters union issued a 72-hour strike notice against CN shortly before 10 a.m. EDT.
And at Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. -- where operations remained shuttered -- the union has challenged a directive for binding arbitration issued by Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to the country's labour board.
A work stoppage at both national railways prompted MacKinnon to ask the Canada Industrial Relations Board on Thursday to use the mechanism, aimed at resolving an impasse that has halted freight shipments and snarled commuter lines across the country.
The labour board summoned the parties to a meeting Thursday night, followed by a hearing on Friday.
The tribunal said in an email it is addressing the issue "with utmost urgency."
There was no decision yet as of about 6 p.m. EDT Friday.
