Bargaining goes down to the wire

Groups urge PM to step in ahead of possible walkout by thousands of CN and CPKC workers

- JOSH RUBIN

More than 9,000 workers at CN Rail and CPKC were poised to walk off the job at midnight if a new contract wasn’t hammered out.

Talks to avert a railway work stoppage appeared to be going down to the wire.

Union and management negotiators remained at the bargaining table just hours ahead of a 12:01 a.m. Thursday deadline to avert a strike or lockout that could hammer the Canadian economy and scramble commutes for thousands of GTA residents.

“All parties remain at the bargaining table. Our union is making a good-faith effort to reach agreements before midnight,” said Christopher Monette, spokesperson for Teamsters Canada, which represents 9,300 workers at CN Rail and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).

Conductors, engineers and yard workers at both railways are in negotiations, as are rail traffic controllers at CN.

The companies have said they’ll lock workers out if there’s no deal before the deadline. The union can also strike against CPKC.

A work stoppage would mean GO Transit’s Milton line wouldn’t be operating, nor would trains operating out of its Hamilton station.