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Historical Rail Strikes: The recent rail shutdown in Canada mirrors previous simultaneous work stoppages at Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific in 1950, 1966, 1973, and 1987, which halted rail traffic nationwide.
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Industry Impact: Past strikes, like the recent one, had significant consequences for various industries, including agriculture, retail, mining, and forestry.
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1950 Strike Parallels: The 1950 strike saw rail companies competing with trucking firms, with workers demanding substantial wage increases after a period of inadequate raises, similar to the current labor demands.
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Post-War and Post-Pandemic Labor Demands: After World War II, as with the post-pandemic era, rail workers expected compensation that reflected their crucial role during crises, leading to a surge in strikes.
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Government Intervention: The government intervened to end the shutdowns, both in 1950 and recently, with the 1950 intervention involving an emergency session of Parliament to pass back-to-work legislation.
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Labor Activism in the 1960s and 1970s: Strikes in 1966 and 1973 were part of a broader wave of labor activism and generational change within unions, sometimes leading to violent confrontations, unlike the peaceful rallies during the recent shutdown.
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Modern Union Militancy: Recent years have seen a rise in union militancy, particularly in the transport sector, as evidenced by post-pandemic strikes by B.C. dockworkers, WestJet employees, and St. Lawrence Seaway workers.
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Recent Shutdown and Resolution: The recent four-day rail shutdown ended after the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) to resume operations, with workers returning ahead of binding arbitration.
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Union's Legal Challenge: The union plans to challenge the labor board’s decision in court, viewing it as a victory for big business and a setback for workers.