Teamsters Canada Rail Conference sets a deadline to achieve a negotiated contract.
MONTREAL, Feb. 10, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Today the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) advised CP negotiators that in the event ongoing negotiations do not result in an agreement by midnight February 14, the entire bargaining unit of Locomotive Engineers, Conductors, Trainmen and Yardmen will be exercising their legal right to strike action throughout each location in Canada, effective 0001 (EST) February 15, 2015.
TCRC President Douglas Finnson explains that the Union membership is determined to achieve a negotiated settlement, which addresses the issues they face on a daily basis.
"CP is completely unable to provide the majority of our members with any sort of accurate information on when they are required to work. The CP negotiators have admitted their line up model is completely unpredictable and they are simply unable to fix it. Furthermore, CP is either unwilling or unable to comply with the collective agreements that require train crews stop operating and obtain rest after 10 continuous hours of work," explains Finnson. These are only two examples of the dysfunctional working conditions created by CP for the Teamsters members, and represent significant issues for the train crews, which the Union negotiating committee is trying to fix.
The Teamsters are in Montreal meeting with CP with the assistance of Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services. The Union has provided CP with a sensible and effective set of options that will correct many of the terrible working conditions, and will continue to work towards effective solutions should CP want to make positive changes. The TCRC is optimistic that CP will be able to agree with an acceptable set of terms the membership will ratify.
"The Teamsters are here to negotiate," confirms TCRC President Finnson.
The Teamsters Union represents 125,000 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.
SOURCE Teamsters Canada Rail Conference
Douglas Finnson. President Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, Office: 613 235-1828, Email: [email protected]
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