Rail Strike Hits Mining Industry
Announcement posted by DesignBuild Source 28 May 2012
Talks continue in hopes of finding a settlement after Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) workers went on strike Wednesday.
Some 4,800 workers went on strike at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, effectively shutting down Canadian Pacific Railway freight service from Vancouver to Montreal.
In response, CP has given some 2,000 non-striking employees temporary layoff notices with as many as 1,400 more temporary layoffs potentially coming down the line.
TCRC vice-president Doug Finnson said issues such as pensions and health and safety were among the outstanding points of contention throughout negotiations. He added that his organization would continue to negotiate for as long as necessary to hash out a new deal.
“We have made every reasonable effort to get a settlement, said Doug Finnson, vice-president of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC). Every union member knows how important the outstanding issues are. We will not walk away from the negotiation table.”..