Swift Action Ends Canadian Rail Strike Within Hours

The Canadian rail strike concluded yesterday, just 18 hours after it began, as authorities acted swiftly to prevent a potential economic crisis.

Canada's two largest rail companies halted operations after a midnight deadline passed without a resolution on pay disputes. 

The work stoppage involved 9,300 engineers, conductors, and yard workers at Canadian National Railway Co. (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), marking the first time both major rail operators in the country had shut down simultaneously. 

However, the Canadian government quickly intervened, prompting the country's industrial relations board to issue a back-to-work order. The rail companies ended their lockout yesterday evening, and train services are expected to resume within days.

In addition to requesting the back-to-work order, Canada's Labour Minister, Steven MacKinnon, asked the board to initiate binding arbitration between the Teamsters union and the rail companies. He also extended the terms of the existing labor agreements until new contracts are finalized.

CN announced yesterday that it may take a week or more for the company to catch up on delayed shipments.