OTTAWA, Jan. 31, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, expressed disappointment today when informed that the members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) rejected the tentative agreements reached on October 31, 2013.

Mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) remain available to help the parties with negotiations. The FMCS provides dispute resolution and prevention assistance to trade unions and employers under the jurisdiction of the Canada Labour Code.

Quick Facts

Canadian National (CN) is the largest railway company in Canada and transports approximately $250 billion worth of goods annually, including natural resources, manufactured products and consumer goods. It transports products for a wide range of business sectors across a rail network spanning Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico .

and transports approximately worth of goods annually, including natural resources, manufactured products and consumer goods. It transports products for a wide range of business sectors across a rail network spanning and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the . The TCRC represents approximately 3 300 conductors and assistant conductors (road and yard), baggage persons, car retarder operators, yard operations employees, switch tenders, traffic coordinators, and assistant traffic coordinators whose previous collective agreements expired on July 22, 2013 .

Quote

"Our government is disappointed that the membership rejected the tentative agreements reached by the bargaining committee and that this matter has not been resolved. I strongly encourage CN and the TCRC to resume negotiations and work together to reach new agreements as soon as possible. The best solution in any dispute is always the one that the parties reach themselves."

- The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada