Teamsters Canada Rail Conference

Talks between officials with Canadian National Railway and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Union, or TCRC, which is representing roughly 1,700 locomotive engineers, resumed Tuesday (Oct 6, 2009) in hopes of reaching a new collective agreement.

Meetings between the two sides, including two federal government mediators, began September 23 and carried through to September 27 before adjourning for a short break. The talks were scheduled to resume during the week of October 5.

"The talks resumed October 6 and are scheduled to continue through the balance of the week," Mark Hallman, Director of CN's Communications and Public Affairs department, said.

Hallman would not disclose any details of the negotiations, other than to restate that "CN continues negotiations with the TCRC and remains optimistic that talks with the union will produce a settlement on a new collective agreement."

Officials with the TCRC were not available for comment.

Daniel J. Shewchuk, president of the TCRC, had previously indicated he was optimistic that a successful conclusion to the negotiation process could be reached.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, or CIRB, also held conference calls with officials from CN and the TCRC on October 2 as well as today, October 6, Hallman confirmed.

He said the conversations were private and he was not at liberty to discuss what was said during them.

Hallman, however, noted that the CIRB is still considering the TCRC's application as to whether any of CN's services should be deemed essential and be maintained by TCRC-represented employees in the event of a disruption.

"At this time, CN does not know when the Board will decide the issue," Hallman said.

No word was also available on the outcome of the mail in ballot strike vote held by the locomotive engineers that was to be in by October 2.

A rail labour dispute would come at a critical time, as the harvest in Canada is in full gear and the need to meet export commitments at Canada's export facilities is the heaviest.