The Harper Government passed back-to-work legislation in May
OTTAWA—The federal government has named a veteran labour trouble shooter as the arbitrator in the labour dispute between CP Rail and its employees.
William Kaplan has served as an arbitrator or mediator in a host of disputes since 1989.
The government moved quickly to end a strike by 48-hundred engineers and conductors last May by passing back-to-work legislation.
The legislation also allowed the government to appoint an arbitrator who will decide on a settlement within 90 days.
The back-to-work bill angered both the union and opposition critics who said it short-circuited any chance of the two sides working out a deal alone.
But the governing Conservatives made no apologies, saying the strike at the rail company was affecting the economy.
The Harper government has intervened in a number of high-profile labour disputes in the past year, notably at Canada Post and Air Canada.
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