The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) has been in negotiations with the two carriers for months. The rail carriers are pushing for concessions that would force members to work dangerously long hours and be involuntarily relocated for months at a time. 

Picket lines remain up at CPKC pending an order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).

"Throughout this process, CN and CPKC have shown themselves willing to compromise rail safety and tear families apart to earn an extra buck," said TCRC President Paul Boucher. "The railroads don’t care about farmers, small businesses, supply chains, or their own employees. Their sole focus is boosting their bottom line, even if it means jeopardizing the entire economy.”

In the United States, BLET President Edward Hall instructed his members to respect picket lines related to the dispute. BMWED President Tony Cardwell published a letter to Canadian rail CEOs expressing solidarity with locked-out TCRC members.