06:29 AM EDT, 08/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Canadian Pacific Kansas City ( CP ) said late on Thursday night that it is prepared to fully address the resumption of service following a near one day lockout of its union members related to a labor dispute.

CPKC said the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) called an urgent case management conference at 9 p.m. ET last night with another conference scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern to further hear submissions by the parties.

According to CPKC, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) representing the Train and Engine division and Rail Canada Traffic Controller division "refused to discuss any resumption of service, and instead indicated that they wish to make submissions to challenge the constitutionality of the Minister's direction, as well as the CIRB's discretion to proceed with any order".

"CPKC is disappointed by this delay, which will affect our ability to resume serving the Canadian economy," the rail company said.

While the Minister directed that the CIRB proceed expeditiously, any decision by the CIRB on the resumption of service will be delayed. CPKC remains prepared to resume service as soon as it is ordered to do so by the CIRB, the company added.

In a separate announcement overnight, CPKC said it is preparing to restart railway operations in Canada following the minister of labor's announcement that he will exercise his authority under Section 107 of the Canada Labor Code to direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose final binding arbitration and for railway operations to resume.

In a statement the company said: "CPKC will follow the order of the CIRB once it executes the Minister's direction. Our teams are already preparing for the safe and orderly resumption of our rail network and further details about timing will be provided once we receive the CIRB's order."