Unifor Workers at CPKC Vote in Favour of Strike

Workers at one of Canada's two major railways could be taking strike action as soon as the end of the month. 

About 1,200 Unifor members of Local 101R at Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) have voted 99% in favour of strike that could begin just after midnight on Jan. 29, the union said in a statement Tuesday. 

The Unifor members work in mechanical shops, inspecting and maintaining CPKC’s fleet of locomotives and freight cars, and ensuring the railway’s equipment is safe and operational. 

With the strike deadline looming, negotiations between the union and CPKC are set to resume in Calgary from Jan. 24-29. 

“This strike mandate shows the strength and determination of CPKC workers to achieve a fair deal,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Members are united in their demands for job security and work ownership, fair wages, and improved working conditions.” 

When asked how a strike by Unifor workers may impact railway operations, a CPKC spokesperson said only that the railway remains committed to arriving at a negotiated outcome that is in the “best interests of its employees and their families.” 

 It was just back in August that a work stoppage involving more than 9,000 workers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference at both CPKC and Canadian National (CN) brought train traffic to a halt for four days before the federal government ordered workers back on the job.