CPRail Hardball

June 28, 2006

Brothers and Sisters,

I have heard from a fairly reliable source at CPRail, that the company's strategy this round of bargaining is to play extreme hardball with the TCRC MWED in an attempt to break us and to drive us apart from the TCRC BLET. Whether or not this is true, is irrelevant. Because the fact of the matter is that they will not succeed.

I recieved the attached letter from the company's chief negotiator, Paul Wajda, earlier this week.

I think that the message Mr. Wajda is attempting to send, would imply that they are going to try to be even tougher than usual when we get to the table.

We responded immediately (below).

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June 27, 2006

Paul,

This is to acknowledge reciept of the attached letters.

I will return the signed Maintenance of Activities letter on July 5th, 2006.

As for the past practices letter, whereas I believe I understand the concept of what you are attempting to convey here, I will express the TCRC MWED's position on this letter.

The "past practices" that you reference in this letter for the most part, appear to be applications of the current collective agreement and not practices that exist outside it. As such, it is our position that the company cannot cease to recognize these.

It is our further position that if the company wishes to give notice of the elimination of past practice that they must do so on individual practices, properly clarified and insuring that said practices are not applications and /or interpretations of the language of the agreement or practices protected by law and/or arbitrable jurisprudence.

Bill Brehl

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Bill, as we discussed earlier please find our letter indicating we are stopping all past practises that are not provided by the Collective Agreement.

We also crafted a letter indicating our Maintenance of Activities position.

If you have any questions please give me a call.

Paul Wajda

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Brothers and Sisters when you read Mr. Wajda's letter, I realize that it will probably make you quite angry. Hell, it makes me angry. That may even be the company's intent. But don't worry, there is nothing wrong with getting angry over disrespectful treatment.

For the last few months, they have given their employees a great many things to be angry over. This "shot across the bow" does not intimidate your negotiating team and it shouldn't worry you. But it should make you angry.

We will still attempt to reach a fair and equitable settlement with them, without posturing or empty threats. If that is possible,it will be achieved. But if it is not possible, remember Mr. Wajda's letter... remember the non-conforming rest days... remember them taking away the change rooms.... remember the garbage food and unsanitary conditions on the outfits... remember the denial of expenses..... remember the disrespect of such comments as "If you don't like it, go get a job at Wal Mart"..... remember the broken commitments and the violations of the collective agreement and the violations of the Labour Code... remember the millions of dollars that they pay themselves...remember the 6 free "flex" days that they gave themselves....remember the hundreds of millions of dolalrs of profits that they are bragging about.... but most importantly, remember your families, your partners and your children and remember your dignity.

They may want to appear tough, but remember, there are two kinds of tough. There is tough and then there is TEAMSTER TOUGH. Remember that.

Stay safe, stay strong, stay together.

Yours in solidarity,

Bill Brehl
President
TCRC MWED

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