Oct 8 (Reuters) - Unifor said on Tuesday it has

initiated contract negotiations with Canadian Pacific Kansas

City ( CP ), just weeks after it opened negotiations with

Canadian National Railway ( CNI ).

The union, representing 1,200 workers at CPKC, will seek to

address key issues affecting rail workers across seventeen

workplaces in Canada.

Canada is the world's second-largest country by area and

relies heavily on trains to transport a wide range of

commodities and goods. Work stoppages at railroad companies

could bring the nation's economy to a grinding halt, as they did

in August.

Unifor said its bargaining priorities include "high levels

of contracting out, forced overtime and strict company policies

that negatively impact work-life balance."

In August, the railroad company faced a threat of work

stoppage by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Union in one of

the biggest service disruptions in the country.

The work stoppage came to an end only after the Canadian

government called for a binding arbitration to reach an

agreement over a new contract. Teamsters has filed court

challenges against the rulings.