A
member speaks out
November
6, 2006
Brothers and Sisters,
Attached is an angry letter that I recieved in response to the
letter I sent out a few days ago with CPR's 'Global' and our response
to same.
This letter is typical to the response from the membership, that
we are getting to the company's offer. This member, however asked
that I share his feelings with you. I took the liberty of removing
his name to avoid any possible repercussions from the company.
I would like to stress that this 'global' was far better (both
in comprehension and basic decency) than the company's original
offer, but it still invokes strong emotions in all that read it.
Especially in those that have seen the company's 3rd quarter release
with their enormous profits and gains ( see below ) or the fact
sheet on the exorbitant bonuses that they pay their executives.
Check out this page >>>
I would like to stress that it is frustrating seeing an offer
like their 'Global', especially after all we've done to put this
company where it is today.
But we must remember, it is only the first 'official' offer.
Do I think that it was reasonable? Of course not!! Did I expect
them to be reasonable? Not a chance.
But do I think that I will get them to see things our way eventually?
Yes. Because to do less than that will mean that I failed and
this contract is too important for that. I will get them to understand
that we are people with dignity and deserving of respect and that
we have made their railway what it is today. Through hard work,
dedication and sacrifice. And we deserve more than a pat on the
back and a burger... in compensation.
We deserve a fair and equitable contract. A decent wage, proper
expenses, good benefits, fair work rules that respect our quality
of life and when we have given all that our bodies can give to
the railway, we need a pension that we can afford to retire on.
For the back breaking work, the long hours exposed to the elements,
the travelling and time away from home, the shifts at all hours
of the day.... we deserve and we demand that we can support our
families, pay our mortgages and save for our children's future.
Proper compensation for the labour we perform. When Tim Horton's
can pay $16.00 an hour for people to pour coffee in Calgary, why
should our extra gang labourers be paid less for what they do?
I am hopeful that as the bargaining process unfolds we will manoeuvre
CPRail into a reasonable position. That hope is the reason we
are still talking.
I am not advocating any kind of job action at this point, or even
heading towards conciliation. I am prepared to do whatever is
necessary to get a good contract, which at this point is... to
continue to bargain. If, and when, it becomes necessary to take
a different route, we will be prepared to do so.
To the Brother that wrote the following letter and asked me to
share it with you... I support you and agree with you. I have
known you, and you have known me, for 25 of your 28 years. And
if it comes to it, I will be on the line with you. If we are on
strike, I will take myself off pay, pick up a placard and I will
hit the bricks, fighting on the streets as hard as I fight at
the table.
But let's hope that the company does not put us in that position.
Let's hope that they realize that their record profits were made
on our backs and that if they want to retain a workforce, they
must compensate them properly and treat them fairly. Let's hope
that they begin to reciprocate our loyalty to CPR and share the
wealth that they are accumulating. We are not asking for too much,
we are only demanding that they give us enough.
Stay strong, stay safe and stay united.
Fraternally,
Bill Brehl
President
TCRC MWED
Canadian
Pacific Railway Ltd.
From
CNW Group and CCNMatthews
Wednesday,
October 25, 2006, Page B24
Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.
(CP-TSX)
3Q to Sep. 30 Year ago
Revenue 1,151,300,000 1,104,700,000
Net profit 161,700,000 203,600,000
Net prf/shr 1.03 1.29
Cash Flow 278,300,000 273,900,000
9 mo to Sep. 30 Year ago
Revenue 3,392,800,000 3,224,700,000
Net profit 650,200,000 407,500,000
Net prf/shr 4.12 2.57
Cash Flow 735,000,000
711,400,000
Brothers
& Sisters.
Having just read the companies Memorandum of Settlement dated
Oct. 24th. 2006 the "Global Offer " just reinforces
what we as Teamsters already know, this company cares very little
about the employees that have given them years of dedication.
I have watched 6 employees give their lives in workplace fatalities
in the name of this same devotion and dedication, get the job
done for them and hurry it up.
Then they insult us with this "Global Offer" I believe
even at CN in the fourth year of a four year deal they received
4% which should be what CP offers us in the first year minimum.
Everything I read is just taking us backwards, there doesn't seem
to be anything here for us, Dental is still the year previous
scheduled payment for that province, plus they want us to accept
a co-pay provision, just whittling away at what little increases
they are willing to give us.
The same for Extended Health and Vision Care Plan amend a co-pay
provision were we pay 10% of the premium, sounds like some how
they whittle more out of our pockets. Main line track forces to
be on call for OT when they can't contact a crew to work. What
about compensation for this 'on call' ?
Working on adjacent territories for emergency work for BTMF and
B&B forces, away from our families with probably food and
water !!! They still refer to us as Gangs instead of work crews,
what does that say of how they look at us. The rest is all in
the same vein as what I've already mentioned, backwards.
If this is their best then I'm ready to walk off the job and strike
!!!! Teamsters MWED !!!!!!!!!!!
Fraternally
Concerned Teamsters MWED member and CPRail employee for over 28
years!!!
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