ottawa — labour minister steven mackinnon said thursday the federal government has asked the canada industrial relations board to end the lockout at the country’s two biggest rail companies, ordering a return to work and imposing binding arbitration.
canadian national railway co. and canadian pacific kansas city ltd. locked out 9,300 engineers, conductors and yard workers after the parties did not agree on new contracts before deadline.
mackinnon faced pressure from business groups, who have been warning of massive economic consequences and urging the government to step in.
mackinnon’s announcement was immediately criticized by the ndp leader, who blasted it as “cowardly” and “anti-worker.”
jagmeet singh said in a statement the move was proof the liberals “will always cave to corporate greed, and canadians will always pay for it.”
at a thursday news conference, mackinnon maintained his government is “committed totally to collective bargaining,” but said the impacts of the work stoppage are being felt by all canadians.
“millions of canadians rely on our railways every day,” he said. “workers, farmers, ranchers, commuters, small businesses, miners, chemists, scientists … the impacts cannot be understated and they extend to every corner of this country.”