(Teamsters Canada Rail Conference issued the following news release on February 24.)
MONTREAL — Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, representing Locomotive Engineers and Rail Traffic Controllers, today expressed their concerns with the safety of their members employed by Canadian National during the ongoing CAW legal strike.
With the strike now in the sixth day, the Rail Conference is now becoming aware of certain shortcomings relative to equipment and train inspections. It is very unfortunate that Canadian National appears to have neglected the main priority of their operation – safety.
The Rail Conference will not allow their members to be forced to operate in an unsafe atmosphere and is dealing with these items directly with Transport Canada.
The Rail Conference supports the CAW in their efforts to secure a proper agreement with Canadian National, and we are well aware of our responsibilities, both under the Canada Labour Code and our Collective Agreement. Nevertheless, our members’ safety and that of the general public is a major concern of the Rail Conference.
The Rail Conference is also in the midst of negotiations with Canadian National and will be advising the employer that they will not meet with the Company until there is a resolution to the strike by our CAW sisters and brothers. One common area of concern for locomotive engineers and rail traffic controllers is the manner in which Canadian National treats their employees.
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, (formerly the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers), represents employees on Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, VIA Rail Canada Ltd, and numerous shortline railways across Canada.