The Canadian Pacific Rail Strike Draws to an End

Off the job since May15, the Union and management reached agreement that should shortly have workers back at work. The 3,200 members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference had been seeking a three-year contract and a 13% raise.  Those on strike included some 1,200 maintenance workers.

While awaiting member ratification, no details of the agreement reached were released. Bargaining on a new contract had been underway since July of last year. The previous contract expired on December 31, 2006. During the strike Canadian Pacific management personnel had been performing the maintenance of way work. 

Bill Brehl, union president said, “Though the issues on the table were contentious, both parties were committed to settling the dispute and with the help of mediators, were successful.”

The federal government had issued back-to-work legislation in April to end a strike against the Canadian National Railway.  Federal Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn did not anticipate such an action for the Canadian Pacific strike, since unlike the Canadian National action there wasn't a strong perception that the national economy was being threatened.