Skip to main content

The government moved quickly to end a strike by 4,800 CP Rail engineers and conductors last May by passing back-to-work legislation.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

The federal government has named a veteran labour troubleshooter as the arbitrator in the labour dispute between CP Rail and its employees.

William Kaplan has served as an arbitrator or mediator in a host of disputes since 1989.

The government moved quickly to end a strike by 4,800 engineers and conductors last May by passing back-to-work legislation.

The legislation also allowed the government to appoint an arbitrator who will decide on a settlement within 90 days.

The back-to-work bill angered both the union and opposition critics who said it short-circuited any chance of the two sides working out a deal alone.

But the governing Conservatives made no apologies, saying the strike at the rail company was affecting the economy.

The Harper government has intervened in a number of high-profile labour disputes in the past year, notably at Canada Post and Air Canada.

Report an editorial error

Report a technical issue

Tickers mentioned in this story

Study and track financial data on any traded entity: click to open the full quote page. Data updated as of 28/03/24 4:00pm EDT.

SymbolName% changeLast
AC-T
Air Canada
-0.15%19.61
CP-T
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd
-0.54%119.43

Interact with The Globe