Canada’s railways resume timber freight transport after strike called off

Posted on August 30, 2024   |  

Timber shipments are moving again on Canada’s railways after the Industrial Relations Board ended the strike, bringing over 9,300 rail workers back to their jobs.

The strike, involving Teamster unions, Canadian National Railway (CN), and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), had threatened to delay timber shipments across North America, Asia, and the Far East.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference plans to work with other unions to legally challenge the decision that halted the strike and forced arbitration.

Although the union has agreed to return to work, they warn that this could lead to forced contracts in the future, reducing workers' ability to negotiate.

This strike was the first time CN and CPKC locked out workers simultaneously after months of failed negotiations.

Business groups, industry leaders, and some government officials pushed the federal government to act, given that rail lines transport over $1 billion worth of goods daily.

The resumption of railway operations is crucial to avoiding disruptions in the timber supply chain and other sectors.

The strike’s resolution is a temporary fix, with concerns about future labor disputes if workers’ negotiation power isn't protected.