Mark Szakonyi, Associate Editor | Apr 27, 2012 10:55AM EDT
Canadian Pacific Railway would face a labor disruption in late May if a union representing 5,000 workers exercises a strike mandate it received from members Thursday.
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference said it received a 95 percent approval to launch a strike anytime after May 22 if negotiations over pensions, work rules and wages stall. The union is pushing back against the railroad’s attempt to shift workers onto a cheaper pension plan, as CP attempts to boost profitability amid a proxy fight. The TCRC said concerns about “fatigue management and work/life balance also remain unresolved.”
"The announcement by the TCRC is part of the standard collective bargaining process. Both sides conducted negotiations this week and the union left with an offer from the company,” said CP spokesman Ed Greenberg.
He said more meetings between the union and CP are planned for May, and the railroad is optimist that a negotiated settlement will be struck. CP has reached agreement with five of the other unions in recent years.
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