(The Vancouver Sun published the following story by Scott Simpson on its website on July 25.)
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Fearful of mass layoffs that may come with the sale of BC Rail to a private operator, the provincial railway’s unions said Thursday they will take a strike vote early next month.
“This strike vote isn’t about wages or working conditions or benefits — it’s about saving BC Rail,” said Bob Sharpe, chair of the Council of Trade Unions on BC Rail.
Negotiations on a new contract broke down in June after BC Rail rejected the unions’ proposal for a three-year contract including no wage increases, with savings going to restoration of passenger rail, system infrastructure and paying down the railway’s $700-million debt. In return, the union proposed no layoffs.
The strike vote will take place at communities along the line and concludes Aug. 18 in the Vancouver-area.
Any subsequent service disruptions could complicate the B.C. government’s plans to give prospective BC Rail bidders a tour of the line as part of the bidding process.
Sharpe said the vote may represent “the last chance” to maintain BC Rail as Crown corporation.
The government is looking at four bids for BC Rail, by Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, RailAmerica and an OmniTRAX-Burlington Northern Santa Fe partnership.
Earlier this month, The Vancouver Sun revealed internal BC Rail briefing notes that estimate job losses of between 758 and 1,232 union and non-union staff if BC Rail operations are taken over by a private company.