麻豆影视

Skip to main content

CN, union at loggerheads on wages, conditions as strike enters third day

Share
MONTREAL -

Canadian National Railway Co. says it has gone the extra mile to meet union demands amid a strike by signal and electrical workers, who say the concessions do not go far enough.

About 750 CN employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers walked off the job across the country Saturday morning.

鈥淲e have met or exceeded every one of the union's demands in an effort to reach an agreement prior to the strike deadline. Unfortunately, we did not reach an agreement and the union has exercised its legal right to strike,鈥 CN chief operating officer Rob Reilly said in an open letter to employees dated Monday.

The latest offer includes a 10 per cent wage hike over three years and better schedules ensuring two consecutive days off, he said.

Union negotiator Steve Martin said the company's claim of meeting all demands is 鈥渢ruthful, but it is very misleading,鈥 with offers to improve conditions and compensation amounting to small increases.

For example, a pledge to boost daily allowances would see meal per diems rise by $3.50 in the first year and $1 per day in each of the next two years, he said. 鈥淪o you hope there's no more increases in inflation in years two and three.鈥

CN said operations remain uninterrupted under its contingency plan. It continues to encourage the union to end the strike through an agreement or binding arbitration.

Martin said the union is not prepared to enter into arbitration at the moment, but that it filed a counter-offer Sunday afternoon and remains in contact with the company.

鈥淚f necessary, it is a tool that's available that we'll consider in due course,鈥 he said of binding arbitration.

鈥淎s long as everything works, there will be no disruptions.鈥

In November 2019, CN went through an eight-day strike by more than 3,000 workers represented by Teamsters Canada that halted shipments and disrupted industries across the country.

The Montreal-based company hauls more than 300 million tonnes of commodities and consumer goods across the continent each year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2022

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Your home 鈥 considered to be one of the safest havens from all the external stresses 鈥 is filthy.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled on a case she describes as a "bizarre mess" in a decision issued earlier this week.

A man died of his injuries after an altercation that escalated on a platform at Guy-Concordia station on Saturday night.

The woman was taken to hospital and is said to be in stable condition, paramedics say.

Local Spotlight

Canadian hip hop artist Dillan King says running 100 marathons in 100 days was not only the hardest thing he has ever done, but the 'proudest accomplishment' of his entire life.

Sometimes love is written in the stars, but for one couple, it鈥檚 written in the aurora borealis.

James Taylor never expected to be walking home with a bag full of groceries he didn't buy.

This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of a large blizzard that paralyzed Manitoba.

There was an eye-catching mix of rainbows and lightning over Vancouver following a brief downpour this week.

Jeff Warner from Aidie Creek Gardens in the northern Ontario community of Englehart has a passion for growing big pumpkins and his effort is paying off in more ways than one.

Saskatchewan鈥檚 Jessica Campbell has made hockey history, becoming the first ever female assistant coach in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Have you ever seen videos of hovercrafts online or on TV and thought, 'Wow, I wish I could ride one of those.' One Alberta man did, and then built his own.

A B.C. couple is getting desperate 鈥 and creative 鈥 in their search for their missing dog.

Stay Connected