This week, both Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CPKC) and Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) released statements announcing negotiations are far from over. The railroad is declining all intermodal traffic from the U.S. destined for all points in Canada. The Canadian Board has already determined that the stoppages will be allowed to proceed so this strike could last into the coming weeks.

A summary of statements from both sides can be found below and the embargo schedule can be viewed here.

CPKC’s statement: CPKC strongly refutes the TCRC leadership’s claims, emphasizing that no unilateral changes have been made to the collective agreement, and that safety remains uncompromised. Despite opposition from the TCRC, CPKC has withdrawn its offer for a modernized agreement and instead proposed a status quo-style renewal, focusing on fair wage increases and minor adjustments in line with regulatory changes. Committed to avoiding a strike, CPKC remains at the bargaining table and is willing to resolve the dispute through binding arbitration to prevent disruption to employees, customers, and the broader North American supply chain.

TCRC’s statement: On August 18th, CN issued a lockout notice to the TCRC effective August 22nd, following CPKC’s earlier lockout notice to the Running Trades and Rail Traffic Controllers (RCTC). This action came immediately after the Canadian Industrial Relations Board’s ruling that no essential services were required, leading to a 13-day cooling-off period. The Board determined that a strike or lockout at CPKC would not pose an immediate danger to public safety. The TCRC responded by serving a 72-hour strike notice to protect workers’ rights, set to coincide with the lockout. The union remains firmly committed to the collective bargaining process, despite CPKC’s actions, which seem aimed at prompting government-imposed arbitration under the guise of public safety and economic concerns.

Shapiro will continue to monitor the situation and provide status updates as we receive them.