Progress is being made in the contract negotiations between Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and its largest union. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) announced that the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has appointed William Kaplan as the arbitrator for its collective bargaining with CPKC. Kaplan is also currently serving as the arbitrator for the TCRC's contract negotiations with Canadian National, according to a news release from the union on Thursday. A schedule for the mediation process has not yet been established.

A spokesperson for CPKC stated that the company is involved in the process but offered no further updates. On Tuesday, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) confirmed it lacks the authority to overturn the Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon's decision. MacKinnon had ended the lockout of 9,300 union employees from CN and CPKC on August 22, directing the contract dispute to binding arbitration. The union had previously challenged the board's initial ruling in court. The CIRB's order ensures the current collective agreement remains in effect until a new contract is finalized, and prohibits both strikes and lockouts.

Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Related coverage: New contract in sight for CN, Teamsters; Union Pacific Q3 earnings: First look; CPKC Q3 earnings: First look.