I have attached a letter I recieved today from Eastern Region Director
JJ Spikula.
Becasue CPRail is the employer of the largest share of our membership,
they do take up a lot of our time and energy. However, we do represent
almost two dozen shortlines, all with their own share of problems.
Shortline representation has always been hard going. The lines
are usually small properties and the employers are traditionally
running on a tight budget with labour always taking the biggest
hit. We have been trying to change that, with some small success.
There is still along way to go to correct all of the wrongs that
we inherited with these lines, but as long as agreements such as
JJ and the OVR have made in this instance, continue...then, we
are on the right track.
Director Spikula deserves congratulations on a job well done. This
agreement is extremely beneficial to the almost 4 dozen members
that we have on that property and for those to come. Contractors
are almost a necessary evil on these shortlines and the language
that the BMWE negotiated pretty well gives the company 'carte blanche'
for hiring them. It is a real credit to Director Spikula that he
could broker a deal which not only sends the contractors packing
and puts our people on the machines, but also will see new employees
hired. Great work, JJ.
It is gratifying to see that a company realizing profits, decides
to invest money back into the plant .... and not with contractors,
but with their own, loyal employees. CPR should sit up and take
notice.
