(The following report appeared on the Winnipeg Sun website on February 2. Dan J. Sewachuk is one of the BLET’s General Chairman (CN-P&M) on the Canadian National.)
WINNIPEG — Locomotive engineers with Canadian National Railways have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, their union reported yesterday. Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, representing 1,800 CN engineers across Canada, announced yesterday its members had voted 90% in favour of striking.
“These results are a clear indication of the feelings of our members and are also indicative of the poor labour relations atmosphere at CN,” general chairman Dan Shewchuk said yesterday in a written release. “Issues such as rest requirements, time off, (and) time spent away from home, coupled with the harassment and intimidation of our members, are some of the issues at the core of these negotiations.”
The union will be in a position to launch a legal national strike as soon as the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) rules on the issue of essential services, Shewchuk said.
The union has requested the CIRB expedite its ruling in this matter, he added.