Update May 23, 2007

May 23, 2007 Brothers and Sisters,

As we enter our second week of strike, we are still holding strong on the picket lines. All of us have watched the trains slowing down and we have been going over the GBO's which seem to indicate that the amount of slow orders have doubled.

At the intermodals, some are at a near standstill and all that are picketed are severely affected. As these lines are running 24/7, it is understandable that the members are getting worn down but you wouldn't know it from talking to them. Even though a strike is hard on everyone, spirits are up and there is a real camraderie. The cynicism, negativity and depression seems to be on the other side of the line and they can keep it.

Here at the Vancouver intermodal there have been some bad incidents involving the one trucking company that CP was able to hire to cross our line. Trucks have run into our members (once involving a trip to the hospital) though the members, other than a few bruises and scrapes, are fine now. There have been incidents with the hired muscle of the scab trucking company attempting intimidation on their drivers and us. A white escalade with two goons in it kept circling the picket line. Drivers told us that they were hired by the trucking company to "cause trouble". One of them was seen with what appeared to be a pistol as well. When this was reported to the CP police, they went and told the goons to leave and not come back. The RCMP could nothing when they arrived, as the goons were already gone with any evidence. The line has become extra cautious but no one is backing down to these :fear" tactics.

In Salmon Arm yesterday, a scab had trouble driving a BTMF truck and backed it into the tent set up for picketers. No one was hurt, but obviously these replacement workers are not trained well.

We are in court again today fighting injunction applications. Wish us well, we are fighting for everyone's freedom and the right to free speech.

CPRail is hurting, they may say otherwise but we can see it everyday. Slow orders are up and train schedules are down. Many of their supervisors are telling us how disgusted they are with the company over this and how worried they are with the way the track is falling apart. CPRail customers come out to the line and tell us that they are losing millions everyday. All of these things concern me. We are not out to hurt the economy, the country or even CPR. Yes these things help our strike, but they hurt the company we work for. I am still amazed that they will spend millions, lose millions more in profits, all over ego and arrogance.

No further talks are scheduled, though I have followed protocol and kept in touch with the mediator. Perhaps, CP will eventually get off their high horse and do the same.

I have attached two more notes from member's wives. And yes you can work elsewhere (not at CPR of course) to bring money in, and picket after work.

In regards to Mr. Green's comments at Bear Sterns, the company keeps saying that he was taken out of context. I did include the link to his whole speech when I psoted the note on the website on May 8th (http://www.tcrcmwed.ca/ENG/NEWS/Green.htm), so you can listen for yourself and make that determination. They can sin it anyway they want now, but when you listen to everything he says, I feel that it is obvious what he thinks of us. An apology rather than an excuse would have been nice, but that's just my opinion.

Keep your heads up, stay strong, stay safe, stay united. Remember this is not about winning a strike, it is about winning a fair and equitable contract.

Fraternally,

Bill Brehl President TCRC MWED

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My husband and myself have been checking both Teamsters and CPRail websites since the strike began, and all we seem to get from the CP website is how great the crew are doing, what a wonderful job they are doing, also that things are running smoothly!

Did anyone ever thank our boys for the job well done other than their immediate supervisors??? NOT LIKELY!

Does Fred Green thank any of these boys for their hard work??? doesn't sound like it.

Keep up the good work guy's you'll get there, the stocks are already down 0.92 and will continue, soon companies will look at having their stock shipped in another manner then what's cp going to do?

Eventually they will have to cave, do you honestly think that they are going to chance losing that kind of $$$$$

Not likely!

TRAINS ARE SLOWING DOWN
CP RAIL IS LOSING $$$$
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME!
STAY STRONG STAY SAFE STAY UNITED
Mr. Brehl if you chose to post this please leave our name out....
Thanks

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May 22, 2007.
Dear Mr. Brehl


While talking to my husband about the strike, it was brought to my attention that Mr. Green was supposed to be a highly intelligent person, which is why he holds the position of C E O. I feel that this poor man has lost his intelligence somewhere between being a Roadmasters' Supervisor and where he is now.

The comments made by Mr. Green at the conference in New York come from the ramblings of a very UN - INTELLIGENT person. You do NOT cut off the very foundation of the railroad to save a buck. If the company is so worried about saving money, try telling Mr. Green to take $ 4 million of his 4.8 million dollar salary and give to the hard working men who deserve the money more than he does.

I've heard comments from some that the maintenance workers do nothing but sit on their butts and collect their pays. Granted their are some that way, but the majority of them are hard working and very dedicated men. I've yet to hear of a company man sitting behind a desk lose his life to the job. Mr. Green......... get off your ass and act like a real man. Start caring about the company and the men you are working for. You are not a movie star , or a sports pro. Why the big bucks? Why is it that the company men starting as deputies and going up the ranks all recieve LARGE BONUSES at the end of the year, and our men don't even merit a thank you! You big shots ought to be ashamed of yourselves, complaining because our brothers and sisters want a raise that they should be entitled to. A C E O should care about all his workers.

I hope you realize Mr. Green, that you have #%*? on the very SHAREHOLDERS that work for this company. Did you forget that most of these men hold shares of the very company they work for. I'd be very careful about who you step on. You're not to big for our people to step right back on you.

The railroad is very much like car. You keep it maintained by the right people, it could last a life time. Take it to someone that doesn't know about them....ITS NO GOOD ANYMORE. Look at CN Rail a perfect example. All the problems they have due to cut backs. My suggestion is...... you railroaders that have shares, VOTE GREEN OUT. Put someone that does care equally about the company and yourselves in, in his place.

Its up to you RAILROADERS to stop this injustice." Stand up" ," Be noticed". You are after all an extremely important part of this company." STAY STRONG"," STAY UNITED". I speak for ALL of your families when I say......WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!!