Arbitration deal announcement ends rail strike

The Teamsters strike at CP Rail is over after the parties involved agreed to a “mediation and arbitration process.”
The news came on Feb. 16 after the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and CP Rail issued statements announcing the arbitration.
“We took this strike action to improve the quality of life and the working conditions for our membership,” said  Doug Finnson, the president of the TCRC in a statement posted to the TCRC website on Feb. 16.
“Our preference is to negotiate these improvements through collective bargaining, and the worst thing that could happen is a legislated process. These issues are far too important to our members to have a legislated process decide the issue. Consequently the better option is to use a fair mediation and arbitration dispute resolution in front of an independent arbitrator, where we can demonstrate that our plan is a proven fatigue management system which is highly regarded for a long time and is far superior to what the employer seeks to obtain,” Finnison stated.
CP Rail said the arbitrator will be appointed by the federal government and said they wouldn’t release any more details.
“This decision ensures both sides will get back to the table, and gets us back to moving Canada’s economy forward,” said Hunter Harrison, CP’s Chief Executive Officer. “While we would have preferred a negotiated settlement, this is the right thing to do at this time.”
Canada’s Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women Kellie Leitch also issued a statement
“I am extremely pleased that CP and the TCRC have decided to send their outstanding issues to voluntary arbitration,” Leitch said in a media statement. “This will bring an end to the work stoppage that could have seriously harmed the Canadian economy. I applaud both parties for coming to this agreement that will ensure the continuation of Canada’s rail services.”
The labour minister had set in motion plans to legislate an end to the strike, something the Teamsters organizers clearly sought to avoid.
The plan is to get train operations resumed by Feb. 17.