Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) received a 72-hour strike notice from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Canadian Signals and Communications System Council No. 11 on May 27, according to the CPKC website. The IBEW represents 300 Signals and Communications employees across Canada.

Members of System Council No. 11 of the IBEW employed by CPKC lawfully withdrew their services, effective 08:00 Mountain Daylight Time on May 31, following the expiration of the 72-hour strike notice and the failure of the parties to reach a negotiated settlement, noted a May 31 press release.

IBEW System Council No. 11 represents nearly 300 Signals and Communications employees working across Canada, from Vancouver to Montreal, according to its website. These employees perform highly skilled, safety-sensitive work involving the installation, maintenance, testing, and repair of railway signaling and communications systems across the CPKC network.

Backed by a 96% strike mandate vote, IBEW members have raised concerns throughout bargaining regarding wages, expenses incurred by employees in the service of the company, and work-life balance issues arising from extensive on-call obligations and demanding schedules, noted the press release.

"Despite months of bargaining and the completion of the federally mandated conciliation and mediation process under the Canada Labour Code, the Company failed to meaningfully engage on the Union's key fiscal proposals, and the parties were ultimately unable to reach an agreement," said Senior General Chairman Jason Sommer in the news release.

"The bargaining committee did not take this step lightly. Throughout this process, the Union remained committed to reaching a fair negotiated settlement for our members. Unfortunately, the Company failed to meaningfully address the issues affecting recruitment, retention, compensation, and work-life balance within the Signals & Communications department," Sommer added.

CPKC RESPONDS

The railroad has implemented contingency plans to maintain railway operations across Canada following the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker (IBEW) Canadian Signals and Communications System Council No. 11's rejection of the latest contract offers, CPKC said in a May 31 press release. "Safe and efficient rail service has continued," added CPKC.

"After spending months bargaining in good faith, CPKC is disappointed that a work stoppage could not be prevented. CPKC has presented a fair and balanced proposal with wage and benefit increases consistent with collective agreements currently in place with all our other unions across Canada," said CPKC on their website.

"We continue to encourage IBEW to end its strike and accept binding arbitration. CPKC has an excellent track record of successful collective bargaining with bargaining units across North America. We remain hopeful that a resolution can be reached quickly," said CPKC.

Here is a link to the IBEW SYSTEM COUNCIL NO. 11 website to watch for updates: https://ibewcouncil-11.com/….

Here is a link to the CPKC website to watch for updates: https://www.cpkcr.com/….

Mary Kennedy can be reached at [email protected]

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