CN gets strike notice, feds preparing legislation to stop walkout
Posted Feb 5, 2014 06:10:24 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – The federal government says it’s preparing legislation to prevent a strike at CN Rail.
Labour Minister Kellie Leitch says a strike at the rail carrier would hurt farmers and the forestry sector.
And she warns that any job action would undermine Canada’s economic recovery.
Leitch announced notice of pending legislation this afternoon after Canada’s largest rail company received notice that one of its major unions could go on strike as early as Saturday.
The strike notice came days after the Teamster union’s membership, which includes conductors and yard workers, rejected a tentative contract reached last fall and covering 3,000 employees at Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR).
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall had called on Ottawa to step in before a strike even begins.
