OTTAWA --
The work stoppage at CP Rail couldn't have come at a worse time for Canadians and the federal government desires a deal to finish the deadlock instantly, mentioned federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan.
However O'Regan was not prepared to debate the opportunity of again to work laws being tabled when the Home of Commons resumes Monday as a result of the corporate and union are nonetheless speaking.
"We would like a decision and we would like it now," O'Regan mentioned in an interview Sunday afternoon.
CP Rail shut down Canadian operations Sunday after a piece stoppage started simply earlier than midnight. Greater than 3,000 conductors, engineers, prepare and yard employees had been picketing Sunday.
The corporate and Teamsters Canada Rail Convention began negotiating a brand new contract final September. The union mentioned the primary points are wages, pensions and dealing situations together with not being pressured to take federally mandated reset days away from residence.
Staff voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike March 3 and had been in a authorized strike place as of March 16, the identical day the corporate issued an ultimatum that a deal be reached by March 20 at midnight or it will begin a lockout.
Federal mediators joined the talks March 11.
Simply earlier than midnight Sunday Teamsters Canada Rail Convention mentioned in an announcement that the corporate was locking workers out.
"As Canadians grapple with a endless pandemic, exploding commodity costs and the conflict in Ukraine, the rail provider is including an pointless layer of insecurity, particularly for individuals who depend upon the rail community," the assertion mentioned.
A couple of hours later they issued one other assertion saying the staff had been locked out however had been additionally on strike.
CP Rail spokesman Patrick Waldron mentioned in an interview the corporate supplied a brand new provide late Saturday and by no means received a response from the union. He mentioned the union started withdrawing workers earlier than the midnight deadline, and insists the corporate has not locked anybody out and needs to maintain speaking.
"To be clear TCRC took strike motion unilaterally," Waldron mentioned in an interview. "CP didn't lock out its workers."
O'Regan mentioned after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, devastating floods in British Columbia, and now a conflict in Europe, Canadians haven't any bandwidth to deal with one other economically devastating drawback. He mentioned he's sure each the corporate and the Teamsters Canada Rail Convention are very conscious of this.
"Individuals's nerves are rubbed uncooked," he mentioned.
"No one wants extra stress, no person wants any of this. This work stoppage couldn't have occurred at a worse time. And I believe that they know that. And so, you recognize, what I'm seeing is a willingness to achieve a deal."
He mentioned he's optimistic a deal can occur as a result of each side remained on the desk with federal mediators Sunday even after the work stoppage started.
"I need that to play out as a result of one of the best, most resilient and most lasting offers occur at that desk," he mentioned. "And I need them to achieve that deal. I simply need them to achieve it now."
Strain on the federal government to step in grew all through the day Sunday, with fears provide chains already closely confused by the continuing pandemic and now the Russian invasion in Ukraine, will buckle additional as rail shipments are disrupted.
CP says the stoppage will have an effect on "just about all commodities" in Canada's provide chain.
The disruptions earlier than the CP rail work stoppage had already helped pushed inflation to three-decade excessive, with necessities reminiscent of meals and gasoline dealing with among the sharpest value hikes.
Canadian Chamber of Commerce President Perrin Beatty mentioned O'Regan should desk again to work laws instantly.
"This work stoppage can have a deep and opposed impression for all Canadian companies -- each large and small -- who depend on rail for his or her provide chain," Beatty mentioned. "This extreme injury to Canadian provide chains at a time of heightened world uncertainty will prolong past our borders and hurt our status as a dependable associate in worldwide commerce."
A spokeswoman for Canadian Producers and Exporters mentioned they too need again to work laws now.
Fertilizer Canada additionally mentioned Ottawa should take "speedy motion" as a result of disrupting rail service throughout spring seeding season can have devastating results on farmers, the financial system, and home and worldwide meals safety."
The Liberals have launched again to work laws at the least twice since 2015, together with to finish rotating postal strikes at Canada Publish simply earlier than Christmas in 2018 and on the Port of Montreal in 2021.
O'Regan mentioned these had been very specific conditions and that proper now he's centered on the actual fact CP Rail and Teamsters are nonetheless on the desk.
In 2021 a strike at CN Rail ended after per week with no again to work laws however such laws has been launched or threatened for rail strikes at the least 3 times since 2009.
In 2012 the previous Conservative authorities launched again to work laws to finish a CP Rail strike by sending it to binding arbitration. In 2015 a deal was reached between the corporate and union to finish a strike after the federal government once more threatened such laws.
In 2009 the Conservative authorities launched laws to finish a CN Rail strike, however a deal was reached to finish it earlier than the laws handed.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 20, 2022.
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