Negotiations between Teamsters and CN Derail In Canada

Negotiations between Teamsters and CN Derail In Canada
http://teamsters.ca/en/news/1888/negotiations_between_teamsters_and_cn_d...
*Negotiations between Teamsters and CN Derail *
10-13-2013 23 :08 EST
Montreal, October 13, 2013 – The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC),
which represents some 3,300 conductors, trainmen, yardmen and traffic
coordinators at Canadian National (CN), are gearing up for a fight with the
railway company.

The Teamsters Union offered to continue conciliation, which ended on
October 7. Unfortunately, CN’s management rejected the union’s proposal and
as a result, there could be a strike or a lockout on October 28.

“We’re extremely disappointed by CN’s refusal (to extend the mediation
period),” said TCRC spokesperson Roland Hackl. “The railway uses an old
tactic: pointing a gun to its workers’ heads to force them to make
concessions.”

What these concessions would mean is that CN workers would be required to
work longer hours with less rest time in between trips, which flies in the
face of scientific research on fatigue management.

In July, CN CEO Claude Mongeau said that railways had to make safety their
“number one priority.” However, the employer’s demands seems to contradict
this statement, and now Teamsters are having to gear up for a fight to
ensure the safety of Canadians and rail workers.

“CN’s managers have to walk the walk and talk the talk; they have to
understand that people are not machines and that you should never place
profits before people,” added the union spokesperson.

The railway’s profits are projected to hit $3 billion this year.

The collective agreement expired July 22. Wages and the retirement plan are
not the central issues in this bargaining round.

*The Teamsters represents 115,000 members in Canada in all trades. The
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is
affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.*
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Information:
Stéphane Lacroix, Director of Communications
Mobile: 514-609-5101
Email: slacroix@teamsters.ca