Trudeau Calls on Railways, Union to Reach Deal to Avoid Strike.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called on Canada's two largest railways and unionized workers to reach an agreement to avoid a strike or lockout that could have significant economic consequences for both Canada and the US. Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. plan to lock out over 9,000 workers from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, while the union has issued a strike notice to Canadian Pacific. The strike would be the first in nearly six decades involving both railway companies, which account for 80% of the Canadian rail network. The industries that would be most affected by a rail strike include paper and wood products, agriculture and farming, exporters, motor vehicles, metals, and quarrying. The dispute has already impacted the movement of products, and multiple industry and business associations have urged the government to intervene. The union is seeking stronger provisions around rest time, while the companies argue that their offers meet regulatory requirements and do not compromise safety. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has also urged the companies and union to resolve their dispute swiftly. [Extracted from the article]

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