IBEW Canada International Vice President Russ Shewchuk issued the following statement in support of IBEW System Council No. 11 members as they continue their efforts to secure a fair collective agreement through negotiations with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).
“The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) First District (Canada) supports the members of IBEW System Council No. 11 as they continue their lawful strike at Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).
“Since the withdrawal of services on May 31, 2026, IBEW System Council No. 11 has remained available to return to the bargaining table and work toward a negotiated agreement. As the dispute enters its second week, no bargaining sessions have taken place. Meaningful collective bargaining requires engagement from both parties, and the absence of discussions does little to advance a resolution.
“We are also concerned by reports that have led the Union to file complaints with the Canada Industrial Relations Board regarding the use of replacement workers during this dispute. Parliament enacted Bill C-58 to protect the integrity of the collective bargaining process, and allegations of non-compliance deserve careful consideration through the appropriate legal channels.
“The priority should be reaching a fair and timely resolution through collective bargaining. Labour disputes are rarely helped by delay, and all parties benefit when outstanding issues are addressed directly and resolved as efficiently as possible.
“CPKC is one of North America’s largest rail carriers, with considerable operational, legal, and financial resources at its disposal. The company is well-positioned to participate fully in both the bargaining process and any related proceedings. We are hopeful that capacity will be directed toward resolving the issues that led to this dispute and supporting a timely return to meaningful negotiations.
“The members of IBEW System Council No. 11 did not arrive at this point lightly. Having exercised their legal right to strike, they have remained clear in their desire to reach a negotiated settlement and return to work under a fair collective agreement.
“The IBEW First District office will continue to support System Council No. 11 and stand in firm opposition to any practices that contravene the Anti-Scab (Bill C-58) legislation.
“We call on CPKC to return to the bargaining table and engage System Council No. 11 in meaningful, good-faith bargaining.”
 | RUSS SHEWCHUK International Vice President IBEW First District, Canada |
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The IBEW First District (Canada) represents over 70,000 active members in Canada who work in a wide variety of fields, including construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government.
IBEW System Council No. 11 represents more than 1,400 highly skilled signal and communications employees responsible for installing, maintaining, testing, and repairing the systems that keep Canada’s rail network operating safely 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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