Company Fax Machines - CPR

March 20, 2007

Brothers and Sisters,

Last week at mediation, the company made a big show of handing out photocopies of an internal e-mail between myself and another Union rep. They claimed that they found it on a company fax machine. The e-mail was fairly innocuous and only referenced information readily available on our website so it did not have the embarrassment factor that the company intended.

Suffice it to say that it is always provocative and in bad form to be flashing around someone else's personal correspondence without their permission, regardless of how it came to your possession. But this latest tactic definitely opened our eyes to how they want these mediation sessions to proceed.

Once again I will say that we will continue to try to negotiate on a professional level, regardless of the tactics they employ. I will chalk up this incident to inexperience on the company's side, over malice, but there has been a breach of trust.

Take note, Brothers and Sisters, we must keep our counsel to ourselves. I will re-inforce here that the company faxes are not to be used for sending any Union documentation. What we say and do amongst ourselves, must stay amongst ourselves.

I will continue to keep you updated on the website and by group send, however private information may be distributed to your Directors and local representatives. If you have any questions that you do not think should be broadcast, call your local rep, your Director or myself.

Once again, the company has been very clear that their fax machines are company property and that they do not want them used to send out or receive Union information. But you can always go to www.tcrcmwed.ca for updates or as mentioned earlier, call your rep, Director or myself.

Fraternally,

Bill Brehl
President
TCRC MWED