CN conductors, rail yard coordinators could strike as of Nov. 19

The Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference, which represents 3,200 CN employees who serve as train conductors and rail yard coordinators in Canada, notified CN that it intends to strike as of Nov. 19.

The union issued a formal strike notice on Nov. 16. CN continues to negotiate "in good faith" to reach an agreement before the strike deadline, said Rob Reilly, CN executive vice president and chief operating officer, in a press release.

CN offered binding arbitration to the union, which declined the offer, he said.

"If a settlement cannot be reached this weekend, we will once again encourage the union leadership to accept binding arbitration as an alternative to disrupting the Canadian economy," Reilly said. "We remain committed to constructive talks to reach an agreement without a work stoppage.”

Meanwhile, CN is laying off 1,600 employees as freight volume declines amid trade tensions and a weakening North American economy, The Globe and Mail reported last week.

The layoffs will affect managers, office employees and unionized rail workers across CN's U.S. and Canadian network, according to the report.

"The company is adjusting sources to demand," a CN spokesperson told the newspaper, without being specific about the number of layoffs.