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Canada rail union launches court obstacle to back-to-work order

The union representing workers at Canada's two primary rail companies said on Friday it had submitted a four court difficulties versus a judgment by the country's industrial labor board that forced them back to work.

The board on Saturday accepted a demand from the government to buy more than 9,000 Teamsters members back to operate at Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City and to enforce binding arbitration.

The union stated the decision was a win for the trains and might result in the imposition of future agreements, wearing down employees' bargaining power.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon stated recently his choice to refer the matter to the board would survive a court challenge offered his broad power under Canada's labor code.

Government officials state the difficulty in the Federal Court is different from the board's judgment and will not impact the return to work.

The two business locked out the employees earlier this month after talks failed to produce a new labor offer.

(source: Reuters)