Canada: Simultaneous Railway Strikes Could Begin August 22

On August 9, 2024, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) announced its ruling that work stoppage due to strike or lockout, from Canada’s two major railway companies, Canadian National (CN) Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC), would not present a threat to public health and safety. With this announcement, if a negotiated settlement cannot be completed, CN and CPKC are cleared to strike as early as August 22, after a 13-day cooling period mandated by CIRB. Both CN and CPKC have stated their intention to initiate an employee lockout if no contract settlement or binding arbitration agreement is in place by August 22.