CLEVELAND, June 18 — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer Rail Canada Traffic Controllers employed by Canadian Pacific went on strike at midnight last night.
The negotiations between RCTC and Canadian Pacific began on September 1, 2002 with both the union and the company serving notice to commence collective bargaining as required by the Canadian Labour Code. In March 2003, the union filed for conciliation due to the fact that Canadian Pacific was placing additional demands on the RCTC and the negotiations had stalled. The government appointed a conciliator, and the parties had 60 days to reach an agreement. This period ended on May 27 with no agreement reached. A cooling down period was legally mandated and it ended today.
RCTC members are seeking a pay scale similar to that of Rail Canada Traffic Controllers employed by Canadian National. The BLE-RCTC also opposed Canadian Pacific’s attacks on their work rules and the company’s demands for changes in the RCTC’s benefits package.
“At present, we have Labour Board charges pending against Canadian Pacific Railway for failure to bargain in good faith,” said BLE-RCTC General Chairman Jim Ruddick. “In our complaint, we allege that since negotiations began on September 21, 2002, the company has promoted an inordinate number of our members into management positions in an attempt to undermine our union.
“We also assert that the company is training former Rail Traffic Controllers, who voluntarily left some time ago, [to replace workers on strike].”
“We plan to do everything that we can to support our brothers and sisters in Canada during this important time,” said BLE International President Don M. Hahs. “These brothers and sisters have taken the ultimate step available to workers when their backs are against a wall.
“The BLE-RCTC offered what we thought was a fair and equitable agreement, similar to that on Canadian National, and we are extremely disappointed in the carrier’s response.”
The members of RCTC-BLE perform safety critical duties for the railway and are held to a high standard of performance. Rail traffic controllers (RTC) are considered to be the eyes and ears of the railway system, and have a high level of responsibility and standards that they must adhere to. The RTC work with limited supervision and are responsible for the movement of trains over an assigned territory.
The position has been compared, in terms of responsibility, to that of an air traffic controller. The lives of individuals responsible for the movement of trains, rail inspection equipment and rail repair equipment depend on the controllers.
“Other labor organizations have offered the RCTC their support and are increasing their vigilance with regards to safety in order to ensure that safe operations are continuing during the strike,” said General Chairman Ruddick. “The labor affiliates will report all safety violations.”