Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway has reached a tentative deal with the union representing its engineers – ending a national strike a little more than 24-hours after it began.
CP Rail operations are expected to be back to normal as early as Thursday afternoon, the company said in a written statement. The rail company also said that it has struck a four-year tentative agreement with conductors and locomotive engineers, as well as a five-year agreement with conductors and locomotive engineers at the Kootenay Valley Railway, both of which have been on strike since Tuesday night.
Though tentative, the deal means the strike is effectively over. Ratification votes will take place over the coming months once members can be informed on the contents of the offer. The union says operations should be back to normal in every time zone across Canada. Details of the agreement are being withheld pending ratification by union members.
The strike, while brief, was the third labour stoppage between CP Rail and its workers in less than six years. Past disputes have focused on financial issues. This time around, safety and fatigue issues surrounding scheduling were the main sticking points in contract negotiations, as well as pay and benefits.
