CP strike could shut down three commuter rail lines

Montreal’s regional transit agency says it’s concerned about the possibility of a strike at Canadian Pacific Rail, which could shut down service on three commuter rail lines.

Both the Teamsters Rail Conference, which represents conductors and locomotive engineers, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents signal maintainers, have received strike mandates from their members.

The strike could begin just after midnight on Saturday.

Three Réseau de transport métropolitain commuter lines operate on tracks owned by CP.

“The RTM is very concerned about the outcome of these negotiations, particularly because of the impact they would have on our Candiac, St-Jérôme and Vaudreuil-Hudson lines. Indeed, a work stoppage could involve the complete suspension of railway traffic on the entire CP network across the country, causing significant harm to RTM customers,” said Elaine Arsenault, a spokeswoman for the transit agency.

The RTM is following the situation and will keep its customers informed, she said.

Last week, CP said there is still a “significant gap” between the company and the two unions.

On April 14, the Teamsters issued a statement accusing CP of not negotiating in good faith and of “attempting to manufacture a crisis to force government intervention.”

In 2015, service on the three lines was cancelled for several days due to a Teamsters strike. That ended when the federal government passed legislation ordering the striking workers back to work.