Canadian Railroads > Negotiations stalled between CP and Teamsters Union

The real issue at stake is fatigue management.

http://cpeast.teamsterscanada.ca/2014/11/22/cp-rail-union-contract-talks-stall-worker-fatigue-dispute/

and http://cpeast.teamsterscanada.ca/2014/11/22/negotiations-cp-standstill/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/14 07:59 by RayLGrinder.

it's tough to address fatigue if you don't have a decent extra board

and the carriers don't want to pay for an extra board

Also tough when half want rest and the other half want to work-work-work-work.

Bill Miller
Galt, ON

The Brotherhood needs to be real careful here as EHH would love nothing better than to figure out a way to lead CP into becoming the 1st. non-union Class 1 carrier. If I were them I'd totally avoid even thinking of a strike as that might just be what Edot wants???

Ross Rowland

CCMF Wrote:
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> Also tough when half want rest and the other half
> want to work-work-work-work.

There's your bottom line.

EHH has repeatedly shown his contempt for contract negotiations, the arbitration process and the well being of his staff.

On a Canada wide scale, 93% of contract negotiations between employers and unions are completed without resorting to third party mediation and arbitration.

There is a slightly higher resolve rate in individual conflicts with employers.

In Canada, we are in interesting times as a Federal Election will take place in 2015 and which political party will rule the Nation after next autumn is far from clear. Changes in political leadership do result in changes in the legal system over time, as Supreme Court Judges and Senators in Canada are appointed by the Government and its leaders.

The mediation then arbitration process is a familiar path in railway negotiations in Canada, and this early in the game, the outcome is hard to predict. CP and CN have different negotiating styles, and these have not been greatly modified by the presence of EHH on both railways. He isn't a lawyer or a member of the tight fraternity (and increasingly sorority) that deal with industrial relations and government affairs in Canada.

"Buck" Norris Crump , a CP CEO of the 1950's through 70's understood the intricacies of the legal system and shared his corner office at the CP headquarters in Montreal with Ian Sinclair, the CP Corporate lawyer. Crump was an up through the ranks CEO like EHH, but he left the legal wrangling to "Big Julie" (Sinclair) who was a member of the legal and Government elite at the time.

In my thirty plus years in a union represented position at CP, I saw every type of outcome in national negotiations, and when the issues went to mediation and/or arbitration, they frequently ran to over a year to resolve. There is a chance that EHH will be retired (2017) and a different ruling party in power before this one gets solved.

By the way, the only remaining "Brotherhood" in railway contract negotiations is the IBEW (electrician's union). The biggest and most powerful union in Canada , UNIFOR (formerly CAW and CEP)represents most rail workers, with Teamsters Canada a close second,the USWA (Steelworkers) third.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/14 10:05 by eminence_grise.

CCMF Wrote:
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> Also tough when half want rest and the other half
> want to work-work-work-work.


If the union really wanted to address that, the members could do it.

Our local police agencies allow people to bid for overtime by seniority. When you get your first 20 hours a month, you step aside until the most junior guy has worked or refused. Then you can get up to 20 more, etc.

The time hogs get all they want, the 40 and no more people get what they want.