Canadian Pacific (CP) rail workers will return to work today in response back-to-work legislation passed on Thursday.
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union disagreed with the back-to-work legislation affecting some 4,800 CP workers, but the union is advising members to obey the law.
The strike lasted 10 days but failed to resolve important issues for CP rail workers.
“The drastic cut in pensions angered our members,” said TCRC vice-president and chief negotiator Doug Finnson.
“A pension plan is a deferred salary, not just money the company can distribute to its shareholders and managers without being accountable to anyone.”
Work rules and fatigue management have also been raised as issues. The union plans to inform the public of all railway incidents associated with fatigue management.
“We’re not going to let Canadian Pacific endanger the lives of our members and of people living close to railroad tracks,” said TCRC president Robert Bouvier.
“We’re going to keep fighting until CP respects its workers and gives them the rest they need.”
