Teamsters Challenge Return-to-Work Ruling in Canada

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, representing over 9,000 railway workers, has filed legal challenges against government orders that forced employees back to work following a lockout by Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City on August 22. The union argues that the government's intervention undermines their constitutional right to collectively bargain, which is essential for negotiating better wages and working conditions. The disputes escalated after the railways proposed changes to pay and scheduling systems that the union believes could compromise worker safety. Despite these lawsuits, the trains are still operational as the government mandated workers to remain on the job during arbitration. The federal labor minister, Steven MacKinnon, expressed confidence that his actions would withstand legal scrutiny. The union and rail companies have not publicly commented on the ongoing lawsuits.