CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian union Unifor will vote on a potential strike against CPKC, saying negotiations with the railroad have reached an impasse.
The union’s 101R, which represents approximately 1,200 CPKC employees nationwide in mechanical trades, said in a Friday, Nov. 29, announcement that it would hold the strike vote “in the coming weeks.” The move came after the most recent round of talks Nov. 26-29, and with the end of the government-sponsored mediation and conciliation period ending on Jan. 28, 2025.
“CPKC’s unwillingness to address the key concerns of our members is unacceptable,” Unifor National President Lana Payne said in a statement. “Our members deserve a contract that respects their contributions and ensures fair and equitable working conditions.”
The union and railroad began negotiations in early October, with Unifor filing for conciliation on Oct. 29 [see “Canadian union files …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 30, 2024]. Unifor is also currently involved in negotiations with Canadian National Railway and VIA Rail Canada; the announced earlier this week that members have voted in favor of a strike against CN if a new contract agreement is not reached by Jan. 1, 2025 [see “Unifor members authorize strike …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 25, 2024].
