(Reuters) -Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific (NYSE:CP) Kansas City have locked out workers, starting Thursday, after unsuccessful negotiations attempts with a major labor union.
The workers, represented by Teamsters Canada, have been negotiating since the expiration of contracts in December 2023.
The stoppage has halted movement of grain, potash, coal and other commodities across the country's extensive freight rail.
Here is a timeline on the negotiations between the parties:
Date Events
Dec. 31, Contracts covering locomotive engineers,
2023 conductors and yard workers at CN and CPKC (TSX:CP)
expire.
Feb. 19, Teamsters claim that CN and CPKC are "not
2024 serious about negotiating and avoiding a work
stoppage".
May 1, 2024 9,300 railway workers at both companies vote
to strike as early as May 22.
May 10, The Canadian government says it is moving to
2024 push back the start of a possible strike by
railway workers.
May 16, CPKC says its leadership, with the assistance
2024 of federal mediators, will resume negotiations
meeting with Teamsters on May 17.
May 23, CPKC says talks have hit a deadlock,
2024 predicting that a legal strike or a lockout
would not likely occur before mid-July.
June 7, The union says CN and CPKC rejected a proposal
2024 to stagger negotiations with both companies by
two weeks.
Aug. 5, The companies and union restart negotiations
2024 along with federal mediators, says Minister of
Labor Steven MacKinnon.
Aug. 9, Teamsters warns a work stoppage could start on
2024 Aug. 22 if a deal is not reached.
Aug. 9, The rail companies say they would lock out
2024 employees on Aug. 22 if talks to negotiate a
labor contract fail.
Aug. 15, Minister Steven MacKinnon rejects a request by
2024 CN Rail to initiate binding arbitration.
Aug. 17, CPKC says will halt any new rail shipments
2024 originating in Canada, and all new U.S.
shipments destined for Canada starting on Aug.
20 if talks fail to progress.
Aug. 18, The railroad operators issue lockout notices
2024 to workers represented by the Teamsters union.
Aug. 19, Labor minister says he will meet with both
2024 companies and the union in Montreal to avert
stoppage.
Aug. 22, CN and CPKC shut down their rail networks in
2024 the country and lock out nearly 10,000
workers.