(Source: Teamsters Canada Rail Conference press release, March 5, 2015)
OTTAWA — On February 20, 2015 CP arbitrarily changed the working conditions and imposed their new ideas on how to allow elected Union officers leave to conduct their duties. The TCRC immediately put CP on notice to stop their actions and then began gathering information from the Divisions. CP refused to change their position and on February 25, 2015 the TCRC filed a Complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) charging that CP actions violated Sections 50, 89, and 94 of the Canada Labour Code. The TCRC also sought the Boards immediate intervention through application for interim relief, a process meant to immediately stop CP.
Today, March 5, 2015, the CIRB Chairperson concluded a hearing and ordered CP to stop their actions and to abide by paragraphs 1 and 2 of the April 22, 2014 Union Leave Agreement. This stops the interference into the TCRC elected Division officers right and ability to attend to their regular Division meetings and attend to their elected duties.
Regional Officers such as Vice General Chairmen who had been targeted may now rely on the Board Order to enforce their right to perform their duties without employer interference.
This is another example of the TCRC Division officers providing the General Chairs, and our legal counsel, with relevant facts and evidence in a timely manner. This demonstrates the true strength in the TCRC Division Officers, and is reflective of their dedication and their perseverance.
CP has been found guilty of multiple violations of the Canada Labour Code in the past two years. The parties will now try to schedule hearing dates to argue the full charges against CP as filed by the TCRC on February 25, 2015.