General Committee of Adjustment CP West
February 19, 2024 - All TCRC Members,
As you are likely aware the TCRC is in an unprecedented position of having 3 major Collective Agreements expire on December 31st, 2023 (Running Trade members at CPKC and CN, Rail Traffic Controllers at CPKC). All three bargaining committees commenced negotiation talks in the fall and have continued to make every good faith effort to attain agreement(s) that the membership would ratify. Unfortunately, it has become very clear that the carriers do not have that same objective.Regarding the Collective Bargaining process, your respective bargaining committees remain steadfast in achieving terms that will be ratified by you, the affected members. Both carriers have enjoyed unprecedented growth and financial success over the past number of years. Denying employees the right to share that success is simply a non-starter.
To the contrary, both CPKC and CN are focused on stripping existing rights instead of building a relationship and treating the membership with the respect it deserves. A glaring example of the carrier’s contempt for both its employees and regulation is the outright refusal to properly implement DRPR (Duty and Rest Period Rules) recommendations, in light of their full involvement and input during the consultation phase. The membership experiences the worsening of work fatigue and unpredictability daily, yet the carriers refuse to accept the guidance of Transport Canada regarding the reset break application. Why?
One can surmise endlessly, but what is becoming abundantly clear is that CPKC and CN have actively colluded on several fronts designed to undermine the membership’s rights and the TCRC’s ability to represent. Both carriers have refused to implement Transport Canada’s recommendations regarding DRPR. Both carriers are seeking astonishingly similar concessions at the bargaining table. And now both carriers have served Notice of Dispute on the same day, for numerous Collective Agreements, within minutes of each other. There is certainly a pattern forming.
What is their strategy? The TCRC has been and remains willing to continue the bargaining process in good faith, yet the carriers seem intent on rushing towards a work stoppage. A stoppage on a scale that Canada has likely never experienced. That has not been and never will be the TCRC’s strategy. However, CN and CPKC appear to be willing to play with the Canadian economy and force the government to intervene as a result. The TCRC believes CPKC and CN need to be called out on their outrageous behaviour and actions.
That is not to say the TCRC will not exercise its charter rights and take action to protect the membership’s interests if necessary. This letter comes to you from all 3 affected bargaining committees as we remain stronger together - as does the membership. Each committee will continue to focus on their own processes and will update affected members accordingly, but it was felt a united message and update was required regarding these egregious recent events.
In the coming days arrangements will begin regarding a strike vote(s). Information will continue to be available on existing websites and social media as before, but we encourage the membership to sign up for the TCRC App. We will be ramping up its usage during this process and notifications will be pushed as soon as possible.
We also ask every Division Executive Officer to begin steps to ensure their membership information is up to date. The TCRC can only poll members we can contact, so please work with your respective General Committee to help in that process.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, we remain,
In Solidarity,
Dave Fulton
General Chairman - CTY West
Greg Lawrenson
General Chairman - LE West
Wayne Apsey
General Chairman - CTY East
Ed Mogus
General Chairman - LE East
Mark Kernaghan
General Chair
TCRC Central LE
Jean-Michel Hallé
General Chair
TCRC Lines East LE
KC James
General Chair
TCRC West LE
Jim Lennie
General Chair
TCRC Central CTY
Ray Donegan
General Chair
TCRC West CTY
Alain Gatien
General Chair
TCRC Lines East CTY
CC:
Paul Boucher - TCRC President
Ryan Finnson - TCRC Vice
President