The Canadian government has stepped in to end the country’s rail strike, less than 24 hours in.
Rail companies Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Canadian National (CN) have been ordered to resume operations with the government concerned over the effect on the wider North American economies.
Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon announced that the government was mandating the operators into binding arbitration with the Teamsters Union. He added that the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) would extend expired collective agreements until new ones were signed.
But the matter may not be settled for good, since the Teamsters union, representing workers with both companies, is pledging to appeal the ruling in court.
The union’s call for industrial action against CN and CPKC followed months of unsuccessful negotiations after the expiration of labour agreements in December.
In other news, Maersk has officially opened its Jeddah Islamic Port-based Logistics Park.