(The following story by Brent Jang appeared on the Globe and Mail website on April 13.)
TORONTO — The United Transportation Union plans to file a discrimination complaint against Canadian National Railway Co. after chief executive officer Hunter Harrison’s comments this week about how the company needs to recruit younger workers who aren’t as focused on pensions.
UTU spokesman Frank Wilner said yesterday that union leaders intend to take their concerns to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, questioning Mr. Harrison’s view that many veteran employees strictly adhere to cumbersome old rules that detract from the goals of being a “precision railroad.”
“He wants younger workers who he is able to pay less,” Mr. Wilner said. “The older workers refuse to be harassed and intimidated.”
CN spokesman Mark Hallman dismissed the UTU’s age discrimination charges. “This is totally without merit. Our policy has been, and will continue to be, to treat all employees equally.”
The Montreal-based railway locked out UTU employees at several locations on Wednesday after the union staged rotating strikes. UTU members at those terminals are expected to remain locked out until the labour dispute is resolved.
The two sides remain far apart on wages and working conditions. UTU members have strongly rejected a tentative labour pact, which was reached on Feb. 24, ending a 15-day strike.
“We are prepared to meet with the union but no time line has been established yet,” Mr. Hallman said.
In an e-mail to employees this week, Mr. Harrison said the company’s “grievance system caseload did not reflect” the union’s assertion of staff being harassed and intimidated.
The CN boss added that he has the best interests of both the corporation and employees in mind.
“Our job fairs are packed with young adults wanting to join all of you — the team that made CN the best railroad in perhaps the world,” Mr. Harrison wrote, noting that “over half of our unionized employees can retire within the next 10 years.” CN has 12,200 unionized workers, including 2,800 UTU conductors and yard service workers.