Unions serve CP with strike intention

The Class I railway said the work stoppage is scheduled to start at 2200 Eastern time Tuesday.    Class I railway Canadian Pacific (CP) was served with strike notices on Saturday from two unions — the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Train & Engine (TCRC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) — after company employees who are members of the unions rejected contract offers Friday.
   The unions had advised of their respective plans to strike at 2200 Eastern time Tuesday, CP said.
   “CP has commenced its work stoppage contingency plan and will work closely with customers to ensure a smooth, efficient and safe wind down of operations,” the railway said.
   About 360 signals and communications employees, members of the IBEW, voted 97.2 percent to reject CP’s final offer on Friday, while about 3,000 conductors and locomotive engineers, members of the TCRC, voted 98.1 percent to reject CP’s final offer Friday, according to Teamsters Canada.