Ottawa makes preparations to legislate end to CP Rail strike
Posted May 23, 2012 10:29:27 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Federal Labour Minister Labour Lisa Raitt says Ottawa is prepared to table back-to-work legislation to end the strike at Canadian Pacific Rail but is urging both sides to keep talking to reach a deal.
Raitt wouldn’t give a timeline for when the legislation could be tabled, only saying they’re ready to act “if necessary.”
Canadian Pacific has suspended rail freight service across the country but commuter trains in several large cities that use CP track continue to operate amid a strike by some 4,500 engineers, conductors and others.
The workers, represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, walked off the job just after midnight after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement despite talks that continued until the deadline.
Raitt says a prolonged strike would costs the Canadian economy $540 million a week.
The minister says she wants both sides to come to a deal on their own, but is willing to step in in the interests of the economy.
