A Member's Voice

To: Senior Management CP Rail
Striking TCRC.MWED Members


Let me start by saying that the comments made by Fred Green can be misconstrued and taken as offensive, rightfully so. I personally don't believe he meant any disrespect.

A more positive statement (comment) about the labour dispute would have been more fitting. There are a lot of people listening, and comments such as those made on May 08, 2007 can easily be taken out of context.

This may not help the morale of our employees, which has been plagued for years. In my twenty-one years with CP Rail, I've often heard the terms "section dogs"-"monkeys" - "mushrooms" with reference to track maintenance workers.

I find this amusing.

There is a general consensus with us, TCRC.MWED employees, as to how the company views us.

Mr. Green, in your "message to all employees" (May 14, 2007) you said, "We will not meet the demands of this union leader." The demands of this union leader were made by us, your TCRC.MWED employees. The terms "economic pattern", used by the company, and "industry standard" that has been also used by the union should be removed from both of your vocabularies and negotiations. Thousands of us (TCRC employees) have asked for more competitive compensation. This was at the top of Article 3 demands. We don't believe it's an unfair request.

This is day 12 of our strike. Employees with many years of service and experience have left, or are leaving, for better compensation. Are we in a position to lose these much-needed, experienced, qualified employees??

We need to actively retain these experienced, competent employees with a preferred compensation package. This, in turn, will attract others to CP Rail.

"Strength in numbers" is a term frequently used by all unions. This term can also be applied to companies such as CP Rail.

The name of our CP magazine (newspaper) is called Momentum. In Collier's dictionary, momentum is defined as:

1. Property of a moving body measured as the product of its mass and its velocity

2. Force or speed resulting from motion; impetus

The last word in definition number two, impetus, is very similar to the word impetuous, not by definition, but in spelling. Impetuous: acting or done suddenly with little thought; rash. We can use this term as a theme for the strike of 2007. I thought the "momentum" in this company was strong. We've negotiated four contracts since 1995, with no work stoppage...UNTIL NOW. CP Rail has increased their profits, share price is doing well, and numerous employees (including TCRC) are participating in the E.S.P.P. The company has acted in an impetuous manner. One example that comes to mind is the offering of permanent jobs to their temporary supervisors.

Equal opportunity employer??

The company should have never put these men and women in this type of position. The momentum may have now shifted in reverse.

Regarding the members that have crossed the picket line, the word impetuous also applies to you. The decision(s) that you made were solely in your best interests. All of you did not take into consideration the best interest of the union, union members, and CP Rail. YES, CP RAIL.

NOBODY WINS IN A STRIKE.
THIS I'M SURE WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.

Tony Pizzi, Delegate
Lodge 132
Ignace, ON


The opinions expressed above are mine. In no way do they reflect the opinions of my lodge or any other TCRC.MWED member.