The union representing engineers and conductors employed with CP Rail voted to authorize strike action as early as April 21, according to an announcement made last week.

With a 94 per cent margin in favour, the strike authorization affects 3,000 members across Canada and B次元官网网址榓 few hundredB次元官网网址� in the southeast corner of BC, according to a Teamsters Canada Rail Conference spokesperson.

The last contract between the two sides expired at the end of December 2017, while a one-year ratification vote was rejected by union members in November after an initial agreement was struck a few months earlier.

The union argues that rising profits are based off cuts, layoffs, closures and working crews to the point of exhaustion, according to a press release. The union also charges that CPB次元官网网址檚 profits in 2017 reached $2.4 billion, even while sales were stagnant.

B次元官网网址淒espite our best efforts to negotiate in good faith, we have come to a point where Teamsters are prepared to go on strike for the third time in six years to obtain a fair and reasonable contract renewal,B次元官网网址� said Doug Finnson, President, TCRC. B次元官网网址淲e will do everything in our power to reach a negotiated settlement at CP, but one that is acceptable to our members and that addresses the major issues that exist with this employer.B次元官网网址�

Laval, QC, April 6, 2018 B次元官网网址� Members of the TCRC at Canadian Pacific (CP) have voted by a margin of 94.2% to authorize strike action. Some 3000 conductors and locomotive engineers could go on strike as early as 0:01 am on April 21, 2018.

B次元官网网址� Rail Conference (@TeamstersRail)

The TCRC press release accuses CP Rail of forcing train crews to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and pushing them to B次元官网网址榳ork well beyond their point of exhaustion.B次元官网网址�

CP Rail disputes that claim, in an email response by a company spokesperson.

B次元官网网址淐ontrary to what was said in the TeamstersB次元官网网址� press release, conductorsB次元官网网址� and engineersB次元官网网址� Collective Agreements provide the ability to take 24 hours rest at home upon the completion of a train trip,B次元官网网址� reads an emailed statement from the company.

B次元官网网址淔urthermore, and despite what has been suggested by the Union, our engineers and conductors have many voluntary rest opportunities, as documented in their collective agreements, to ensure they get the time off they need between shifts and they are not forced to be available 24/7.B次元官网网址�

The CP Rail statement says the company is continuing talks with the TCRC - Train & Engine, pointing to a number of successful agreements made in 2017 with unions representing the Canadian Pacific Police Association, TCRC Maintenance of Way Employees Division, and administrative and intermodal employees with the United Steelworkers Local 1976.

B次元官网网址淣egotiations with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference B次元官网网址� Train & Engine, representing our Canadian engineers and conductors, continue in earnest,B次元官网网址� according to the statement. B次元官网网址淭hat said, despite our best efforts and commitment to fair, equitable and early bargaining, a significant gap remains.B次元官网网址�

The TCRC notes that a ratification vote is currently underway for a new contract between itB次元官网网址檚 members and Canadian National, a rival competitor of CP Rail.

Last year, the company jobs from Cranbrook to Sparwood in order to make operations more efficient.