Should striking CP workers be forced back to work?

UPDATE May 28: Talks between Canadian Pacific Railway and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference broke off Sunday after both sides rejected a deal proposed by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Labour Minister Lisa Raitt said she was "disappointed" at the impasse. The government could introduce back-to-work legislation as soon as Monday.

Original post May 23:

Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt gave notice that she would introduce back-to-work legislation to end a strike by Canadian Pacific Railway workers less than half a day after the strike began.

"The best solution is always the one that the parties reach themselves," said Labour Minister Lisa Raitt. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)Raitt encouraged CP and the Teamsters union to continue their negotiations to reach a deal on pensions and work rules. She said her plan to put legislation to force engineers back to work was a precaution.

"If they cannot conclude their deal, we will have the ability to intervene," Raitt told reporters in Ottawa Wednesday morning.

The strike has suspended freight train service across the country, stopping shipments of grain, fertilizer, coal and other goods. Raitt said the government estimates a strike could cost more than $500 million a week.

The Teamsters union announced the strike shortly after the midnight deadline to reach a deal passed.

Raitt has previously introduced back-to-work legislation for locked-out Canada Post workers last June and striking Air Canada workers in March.

Should striking CP workers be forced back to work? Is Raitt affecting the negotiation process by introducing legislation today? Let us know what you think.



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