MONTREAL — The Canadian government has assigned its Canada Industrial Relations Board to determine whether a work stoppage of the freight rail system would jeopardize “health and safety of Canadians” and if “essential services” should be maintained in the event of a strike or lockout, suspending rail workers’ right to strike.
This comes on the heels of a May 1 strike vote of over 95% in favor by 9,000 conductors, engineers and yard workers at Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City railways, as well as rail traffic controllers at CPKC, all members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
Before the government’s move, the earliest date a strike could have started was May 22. Now, no strike or lockout can legally take place until the board makes a decision on what parts, if any, of freight rail services are considered “essential.”
Canada’s capitalist rulers are demanding Ottawa restrict rail workers’ right to strike. Canadian Chamber of Commerce Vice President Robin Guy issued a statement saying, “A rail strike would have a devastating impact for the Canadian economy. We need government doing what it can to ensure all essential goods relied upon by Canadians daily continue to move.”
A similar letter came from the Agricultural Transportation Work Group, which speaks for big capitalist farmers.
Rail workers and their union are fighting to defend health and safety. For years now profit-driven rail bosses have been increasing the length of trains to 1 mile or even longer, while at the same time cutting the size of train crews to two or even only one rail worker. That’s what led to the Lac-Megantic disaster in July 2013 when a parked train whose one-person “crew” was on rest rolled down a hill, exploded and set the downtown on fire, killing 47 people.
Rail workers are looking to counter moves by both CN and CPKC to restrict their right to proper rest and paid time off, and their attempts to reduce crew size even more, and other attacks.
In 2015 Canadian Pacific rail workers walked off the job for two days carrying placards saying, “Fatigue kills.” In 2019 Canadian National rail workers waged an eight-day strike for safer working conditions and more human work schedules. Walkouts by Canadian Pacific rail workers in 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2022 all ended under threat of federal strikebreaking legislation.
Working-class solidarity was a major factor in gains made by Canadian National workers in their 2019 “strike for safety,” helping prevent Ottawa from imposing back-to-work legislation or compulsory arbitration. They carried handwritten signs saying, “I’m tired of being tired” and “Rail workers’ lives matter.”
Solidarity from the labor movement with the rail workers’ fight for safety, livable work schedules and their right to strike is needed now more than ever.
Félix Vincent Ardea is a CN train conductor, member of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.