IS TRAFFIC BEING EFFECTED AND ARE THE SCABS DOING THE JOB? LOOK AT SASKATCHEWAN AND YOU CAN BE THE JUDGE.

Brothers and Sisters:

I can't tell you what a pleasure it has been to return to great Province of Saskatchewan. I have traveled all over the Province and walked picket lines, meeting old friends and making new ones. It truly is a home coming.

Words fail me when I try to describe how proud I am of our members in Saskatchewan. The courage they have shown. The dedication they have to their union. Most of all, the dedication they have shown to our cause.

I have read the company propaganda about how they say rail traffic is not being effected. How they say that their "scabs" are "doing the job." How President Green says they can operate without us. Well, let us look at Saskatchewan and you can be the judge.

For most part in Saskatchewan, branch lines are closed. The Hardisty subdivision which runs from Wilkie Saskatchewan to Hardisty Alberta is closed down. It is our understanding that the Expanse Subdivision is also closed. The Expanse Subdivision is a grain dependant line which moves grain from southern Saskatchewan. These closures will likely effect the movement of grain and in due course effect farmers in Saskatchewan. But, I think the farmers are with us. I am a sixth generation farm owner and my grandfather, who was a farmer and a provincial minister of agriculture, provided me with an agricultural background. Therefore, I can speak first hand, when I say farmers understand how difficult railways can be. Are we effecting branch line closers? Will we affect the movement of grain? You be the judge.

Does our absence having an effect on rail traffic? There is a 10 mph slow order approximately 50 miles on the Lanigan subdivision. This line is essential for the movement of potash from Saskatchewan. It now takes three train crews to travel from Saskatoon to Regina. Prior to the slow order, it took only one train crew. Two locomotives went off the track at Cut Knife Saskatchewan. Two cars went off the track, at a switch, on the Lloydminister Subdivision. Today, a dedicated member traveled from Yorkton Saskatchewan to attend the picket line in Saskatoon and he reported not seeing a single train during the trip. For the most part, the track is beside the #16 highway for the 330 km drive from Yorkton to Saskatoon. Double stack container cars are now stopped in the yard at Broadview Saskatchewan. Apparently, the yard is full of container cars. In Regina, intermodal yard trucks are standing still from lack of work and there is a lack of intermodal cars. It has been reported that trucks which bring fuel into the Moose Jaw terminal for the locomotives are not as frequent. Numerous safety hazard complaints are being filed about the switch conditions in Regina. Would our members make a difference in the slow order on the Lanigan subdivision? Could derailments be prevented by proper inspections with our members? Why are container cars backlogged in Broadview? During our absence, are locomotive getting better fuel economy in Moose Jaw? Can switch conditions get better without us? You be the judge.

Are the "scabs" doing the job? It has been reported that in Moose Jaw two civil engineers and a supervisor had to replace the same fuel hose at locomotive pumping station three times in one day, because they couldn't stop a rubber seal ring from leaking. On the Portal subdivision a train was reportedly delayed 3 hours, because a "scab" could not issue proper clearance thru a track occupancy permit (TOP). We have a report that "scabs" took 36 hours to repair a run thru switch in Moose Jaw. In Regina, it took 14 scabs almost one hour to replace a single broken angle bar. Could our members replaced a rubber ring and stop a hose from leaking? Would a train be delayed by three hours if one of our members issued the TOP clearance? Does it take our members 36 hours to repair a run thru switch? Does it take 14 of our members to replace a broken angle bar? You be the judge.

It is rumoured that Vice President Brock Winters met with "scabs" in Saskatoon today. The rumour is Mr. Winters informed the "scabs" every one of our members will find on their next pay stub an 800 number they can call if they want to come back to work. Perhaps, the number is 1 800 SCABS CAN'T REPLACE US. Or, perhaps, the number is 1 800 CP RAIL CAN'T OPERATE. Can "scabs" replace us? You be the judge.

Brothers and sisters, there are numerous reports such as these coming from all over the country. In my opinion, we are hearing only a small percentage of the cumulative effect we are having on CP Rail's operations. Do we effect CP Rail's rail traffic with our absence and can the "scabs" do our job? You be the judge.

In solidarity

Louis Wilson
Secretary Treasurer
TCRC-MWED