Canadian Rail Talks Resume

Canada’s government called opposing sides in a rail strike together Sunday to negotiate an end to the conflict, but threatened to legislate a resolution if talks fail.

“I still believe the best solution is for them to find solutions to their problems,” Labor Minister Lucienne Robillard said before returning to Ottawa for a cabinet meeting about the strike.

Company and union representatives met with Robillard at a Montreal hotel, trying to resolve the dispute, which centers on job security.

Canada’s passenger rail service, Via Rail, and its major freight railway were shut down by widespread strikes starting Saturday, stranding thousands of travelers and delaying cargo shipments nationwide.

The state-owned CN Rail was shut down. CP Rail, which has locked out some of its workers, claims managers are moving 85 percent of its capacity.