CPKC signal workers' strike ends after months; binding arbitration begins Monday
About 300 unionized rail workers who have been on strike since May will return to work. CPKC and the union agreed to submit their contract dispute to binding arbitration.
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City announced Saturday that a months-long strike by roughly 300 unionized signal workers has ended, with the rail company and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers agreeing to enter binding arbitration to resolve their contract dispute.
The workers will return to their jobs Monday morning. The IBEW members install, maintain, test and repair railway signalling and communications systems across the CPKC network from Vancouver to Montreal.
The contract between CPKC and its unionized workers expired last May. Since then, the two sides underwent a federally mandated conciliation and mediation process but reached no agreement, leading to the strike.
Binding arbitration means a neutral third party will hear both sides' positions and issue a decision that is legally binding on both the company and the union. The terms and timeline of the arbitration have not been disclosed.
The facts
How many CPKC signal workers were on strike?
Roughly 300 unionized signal workers employed by Canadian Pacific Kansas City were on strike.
When did the CPKC signal workers' strike end?
The strike ended on Saturday, August 22, 2026, when CPKC and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers agreed to binding arbitration.
When do the striking workers return to work?
The workers return to their jobs on Monday, August 24, 2026.
What do CPKC's signal workers do?
IBEW members at CPKC install, maintain, test, and repair railway signalling and communications systems across the network from Vancouver to Montreal.
