Canadian Pacific Railway suspended its freight service across Canada after engineers, conductors and other workers went on strike, the Canadian Press reported Wednesday.

Teamsters Canada, which represents the 4,500 workers, said the strike started just after midnight Wednesday after the parties were unable to reach an agreement, Canadian Press said. The union and the railroad company both said talks would continue Wednesday.

Canada's labor minister on Wednesday said the government would introduce legislation to end the strike if necessary, the Associated Press reported.