The Canadian arbitrator appointed to resolve a messy railroad labour dispute to protect the North American economy has ordered employees at the country's two major railroads back to work so both can resume operating.
The Teamsters union representing workers said Saturday that it will comply with the order and send its members back on the job, but it will also move forward with a legal challenge.
This decision by the CIRB sets a dangerous precedent. It signals to Corporate Canada that large companies need only stop their operations for a few hours, inflict short-term economic pain, and the federal government will step in to break a union, said Paul Boucher, President of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, which represents more than 9,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers.
The rights of Canadian workers have been significantly diminished today, Boucher added.
The order should allow Canadian National trains to continue rolling and help Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. railroad
