Canada Orders Rail Workers Back Amid Supply Disruption

The Canada Industrial Relations Board has mandated that workers at Canadian National Railway Co. (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CPKC) return to work and engage in binding arbitration following a contract dispute that disrupted North American supply chains. The decision was made in response to Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon's request, emphasizing the need to protect the economy and prevent significant supply chain disruptions. The Teamsters union, representing nearly 10,000 workers, has agreed to comply with the order but plans to appeal the decision, arguing that it undermines workers' rights and sets a dangerous precedent. Both CN and CPKC have resumed operations, although a strike notice has been issued by the Teamsters for Monday. Business groups in Canada and the U.S. had urged governmental intervention due to the economic impact of the rail shutdown. The labor board's decision has drawn criticism from union leaders, who accuse the government of siding with large corporations at the expense of workers' rights.