Union challenges minister's push for binding arbitration

CN, CPKC, Teamsters participate in nine-hour meeting at labour board

- CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS

Rail workers picket in front of the Canadian National Railway headquarters in Montreal on Thursday. Although CN lifted its lockout later that night, the company is wary of ramping up service only to have to shut it back down if the tribunal rules in favour of the union.

Rail workers fought back Friday against the federal government’s move to get them back on the job, with a fresh strike notice and a regulatory challenge making it unclear when most freight traffic will resume.

At Canadian National Railway Co., trains began to move again Friday morning as workers started to return — even as the Teamsters union issued a 72-hour strike notice against CN shortly before 10 a.m.

And at Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. — where operations remained shuttered — the union has challenged a directive for binding arbitration issued by Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to the country’s labour board.