(The Canadian Press circulated the following on June 1.)
VANCOUVER — The union representing striking CP Rail maintenance workers says the arrest of six workers by CP Rail police earlier this week was illegal.
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference President Bill Brehl said the union has gone to court to challenge the arrests.
He said the workers were on public property near a CP Rail line in Coquitlam at the time and he accused the CP police of intimidation, harassment and abuse of power.
B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair, meanwhile, called for a public inquiry into the use of private police in the wake of Tuesday’s incident.
He said the arrests were outrageous, accusing the railway of acting outside of the law.
“They took the law into their own hands,” said Sinclair.
Brehl said until the arrests the workers had been picketing without incident at the same location since May 15.