Teamsters Union Challenges Back-to-Work Orders in Canada

The Teamsters union representing workers at Canada's largest freight railroads has filed lawsuits challenging government orders that forced employees back to work amid a lockout by Canadian National and CPKC. Union President Paul Boucher emphasized the importance of collective bargaining rights, stating that the government’s intervention undermines workers' leverage in negotiations. The lockout halted vital freight and commuter traffic, prompting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to act due to potential economic fallout. The union's lawsuits will not halt train operations as a government directive mandates workers to remain on the job while arbitration proceeds. Both rail companies have expressed a desire for negotiated settlements but criticized the union for prolonging the deadlock over contract terms. The federal Labour Minister insists that the government’s actions will withstand legal challenges, maintaining that the process ensures stability in the rail industry.