Parliament ends 9-day CP Railway strike

OTTAWA – Some 4,800 striking Canadian Pacific Railway locomotive engineers, conductors and rail traffic controllers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference are returning to their jobs June 1 following final passage by Parliament of back-to-work legislation. The strike in Canada began May 23.

The legislation provides for appointment of an arbitrator, who will have 90 days to craft a compromise agreement that will then be imposed legislatively.

“With no prospect of resolution in sight, the government acted to ensure continued rail services for businesses, families and the economy,” said Labor Minister Lisa Raitt.

In recent years, the conservative-controlled Canadian Parliament has also ordered an end to strikes on Canadian National Railway and Air Canada, according to reports.