Unifor opens negotiations with CP Rail

CALGARY, Sept. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor National President Jerry Dias joined the Unifor Local 101-R bargaining committee to open talks with CP Rail yesterday in Calgary. 

"Our talks open at a time when CP Rail is enjoying record profits‎ and share prices," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

"There is no question CP has the money to acknowledge the contribution our members have made to the turnaround this company has seen over the life of the current collective agreement."

Equally important is defining how the parties will conduct themselves going forward. "Our members have been frustrated as a result of changes to working environment, disciplinary procedures and the unilateral manner in which the company has proceeded at times," said Dias.

Local 101-R President Tom Murphy was clear that there would be no agreement if both economics and language issues are not addressed. This includes having workers benefit from the huge productivity gains in the last decade, of 51 per cent. 

Dias said that CP workers will have the full support of Unifor's more than 305,000 members as the two sides work towards reaching a fair settlement.

Unifor represents 9,000 rail workers across Canada, including 1,800 at CP.  The current collective agreement expires on December 31, 2014.

SOURCE: Unifor