(The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference issued the following on January 20, 2011.)
OTTAWA — An important meeting was held earlier this week in Ottawa at the national office of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC). The meeting served as an opportunity for newly elected members of the TCRC’s Executive Board to meet with the officers of the General Committees and Provincial Legislative Boards in order to establish contact and set forth the TCRC’s fundamental courses of action during the coming months.
Rex Beatty, the newly elected President of the Rail Conference, was extremely satisfied with the meeting. “It was a very productive session, and I am pleased to have been able to talk to all my colleagues,” he indicated. “I am particularly impressed with the professionalism of my brothers and sisters, and I have no doubt that they are taking their responsibilities very seriously.”
For their part, the officers present at the meeting showed great enthusiasm and assured the new President that he can count on their full collaboration.
“Our union represents workers who are essential to the Canadian economy, and it was important for me to confirm that we were on the same page,” added Mr. Beatty. “Both the major rail companies and shortlines must take note of the fact that we are unified and all share the same objectives: the well-being of the members we represent.”
The 15,000 members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference operate the trains and equipment, they maintain the track and infrastructures and coordinate and control the rail traffic. Moreover, they transport passengers and carry the goods that keep this country strong and a world leader. They keep the lines open that connect this country. In short, they constitute the very heart and soul of the nation’s railroads.
The Teamsters Union represents 125,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.