August 9, 2024 – In a significant development today, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has announced that it will not block the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference’s (TCRC) right to take job action. This decision comes after months of tense negotiations between the union and Canada’s major railways, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). The CIRB, a government body responsible for overseeing industrial relations in Canada, has ordered a 10-day cooling-off period starting immediately. Following this period, the union is required to provide a mandatory 72-hour notice before any strike action can commence. This means that the earliest possible date for a rail strike would be Thursday, August 22, 2024. If the strike proceeds as predicted on August 22, it could have widespread implications for supply chains, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and retail.

The 10-day cooling-off period is designed to give both parties a final chance to reach an agreement and avoid a strike that could severely impact the Canadian economy. However, given the current state of negotiations, stakeholders should remain vigilant and plan accordingly for a possible work stoppage.

Canaan Transport is not optimistic of any agreement prior to August 22nd so we are advising customers to ensure that they are aware of potential impacts on their shipments effective immediately.