The decision came down on Saturday from the Canada Industrial Relations Board that binding arbitration would be imposed between Canadian Nation, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.

In a news release CN says it will comply with the order that extends the current collective agreement until a new agreement is signed. CN is focused on getting goods moving again, as efficiently as possible. CPKC says it will restart railway operations in Canada by just after midnight Monday morning and will fully comply with the federal labour board’s decision.

Meanwhile, a news release from the union says the decision to allow the federal government to end job action and impose binding arbitration sets a dangerous precedent.
The union will comply Canada Industrial Relations Board’s decision but will also appeal the ruling to federal court. President of the TCRC, Paul Boucher, says this decision signals to Corporate Canada that, “large companies need only stop their operations for a few hours, inflict short-term economic pain and the federal government will step in to break a union.” He believes this decision has significantly diminished the rights of workers.

When the binding arbitration was first announced last week, many farmers, mining companies and other segments of industry were breathing a sigh of relief. Daryl Fransoo farms in the Barthel district in northwest Saskatchewan and is Chair of the Wheat Growers Association said at the time that it’s too bad the two side couldn’t have come to a resolution before the damage had already begun. He believes railways should be designated as an essential service. Chair of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Jake Leguee, says event though the work stoppage only lasted for a short time, railways had already been slowing shipments for a few weeks, so it will take awhile to get things back on track.