The federal government is expected to introduce back-to-work legislation Monday to end the rail strike that has grounded Canadian Pacific’s freight traffic across Canada.

Over the weekend, business groups from the Canadian Wheat Board to the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters called on Labour Minister Lisa Raitt to intervene, saying goods are stalled, including more than $50 million worth of grain that is sitting in elevators instead of rail cars.

Raitt had indicated hours after the strike began Wednesday that she is prepared to do that as she has done at both Air Canada and Canada Post, citing the fragile Canadian economy. She has already served parliamentary notice of possible legislation.

Talks between CP and Teamsters Canada, which represents 4,800 workers including conductors and locomotive engineers, broke down Sunday, with the federal mediator withdrawing altogether.

Ashley Kelahear, a spokeswoman for Raitt, said the parties remain far apart and entrenched in their positions.

CP spokesman Ed Greenberg said the company was willing to go to arbitration to settle the contract, but the union balked.

Doug Finnson, vice-president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, accused the company of negotiating in bad faith. “We know a back-to-work legislation is unavoidable,” he said in a news release. “But the fatigue management issues will have to be addressed because it could have important consequences on the members.”

The company was seeking significant changes to its pension plan and post-retirement benefits. With about 16,000 employees and nearly 18,000 retirees, the solvency deficit is a growing concern. The company has contributed $1.9 billion to deal with deficit over the past three years.

“CP is seeking pension provisions comparable to those provided to employees represented by the Teamsters at other Canadian railways,” Greenberg said, a reference to rival Canadian National, which is the country’s largest. “The union has agreed to these provisions at the other railways — we are simply seeking the same in order to bring CP’s legacy pension costs in line to remain competitive into the future.”

While wages between the two companies are comparable, the top pension at CP for a road locomotive engineer is $92,633 a year, while it is capped at $60,025 a year at CN.

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