This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
Canada: 
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Labour negotiations between CN and the Teamsters, the union speaking on behalf of majority workers at the country’s largest railway, have completely broken down and resulted in the union leaders warning to hold a strike or lockout any time after Oct. 28. The workers’ contract expired on July 22, after which conciliation talks began on Oct. 7. Teamsters Canada Rail Conference claims to represent 3,300 conductors, trainmen, yardmen and traffic co-ordinators.
In an official press release issued on Monday, union leaders announced that the Canadian National Railway Company has rejected its latest offer, while also declining to extend the mediation period. They pointed out that wages and the retirement plan are not key issues at heart of these bargaining sessions, but it complained that the management is demanding concessions that will cause CN employees to work longer hours with less rest time between trips.
The union leaders are arguing that such an approach “flies in the face of scientific research on fatigue management,” while specifically point out towards numerous deadly incidents that were caused by lack of attention of railway staff including the Lac-Mégantic derailment. Union leaders highlighted that such dreadful events have amplified the importance of rail safety, in light of which railways like CN also publically promised to make safety their main priority. Spokesperson for the union, Roland Hackl, stated that “CN’s managers have to walk the walk and talk the talk; they have to understand that people are not machines and that you should never place profits before people.”
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