Market Matters Blog           06/01 08:18

   Canadian Signals and Communications Members on Strike Against CPKC

   Members of IBEW System Council No. 11 began a strike in Canada after 
contract negotiations with CPKC broke down.

Mary Kennedy
DTN Basis Analyst

   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/en/media/Bargaining-Updates-IBEW.

   Mary Kennedy can be reached at mary.kennedy@dtn.com

   Follow her on social platform X @MaryCKenn




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