Signals, communications employees at CN Rail on strike
More than 750 signal and communications employees at CN Rail are on strike as federal mediation has ended and no new negotiation dates are scheduled, the union says.
The union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) – System Council No. 11, started bargaining last fall "with a proposal for reasonable benefit and wage increases along with amendments to existing work rules," it said in a news release this week.
Officials said the department is responsible for installing and maintaining railway crossings, train signals and train inspection equipment for CN Rail.
The strike began Saturday at 11 a.m. after giving the company the required 72-hour notice.
Want more northern Ontario news? Download the free CTV News app
CN Rail said it "has negotiated with the union in good faith and will continue to do so. The company has also offered to resolve the remaining differences, which are predominantly on wages and benefits, through binding arbitration."
"The union proposal has held firm even though the proposal has been outpaced by an unprecedented rate of inflation. The increases allowed for a balanced increase over each year of the contract that would keep pace with other CN bargaining units and the rest of the industry. The company has flatly rejected this common-sense approach to bargaining," IBEW said.
"These workers were deemed essential workers and worked tirelessly through the COVID-19 pandemic without any additional benefits."
Starting Monday, picket lines will be set up in the Greater Sudbury community of Capreol and on Tuesday in Sudbury.
An operational contingency plan will be implemented to continue a "normal level of continued safe operations as long as required," CN added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.