Teamsters will protest on Parliament Hill

"Is it too much to ask for our members to be able to sleep at home two days in a row, twice a month?" 

OTTAWA, May 28, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) is organizing a demonstration on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, May 29, to protest against a bill that will force Canadian Pacific (CP) workers back to work later this week.

"We want the government to know how unhappy we are about the failed negotiations with CP," explained TCRC vice-president and chief negotiator Doug Finnson. "The company is delighted the government is tabling back-to-work legislation this week. What they're doing is outrageous."

The railway was never really interested in finding common ground. Instead, it dragged out the negotiations, relying on the promise that the government would step in and force CP workers, who have been off the job since last Wednesday, back to work. 

"Unfortunately, critical issues are still unresolved," lamented Mr. Finnson. "One is fatigue management, something the government should be very concerned about."

"Fatigue for our members is a reality, not a figment of our imagination," pointed out the TCRC vice-president. "Is it too much to ask for our members to be able to sleep at home two days in a row, twice a month?"

Support poured in throughout the strike. One was particularly touching. The wife of a locomotive engineer in Alberta tweeted on the Teamsters Canada Twitter page (twitter.com/TeamstersCanada) that her husband's impossible schedule takes a heavy toll on family life. The kids' birthdays, outings with friends and time as a couple all take a back seat to work. 

This is just one of the many reasons the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference will continue to fight on all fronts to protect - and improve - the health and safety and working conditions of its members. 

WHERE: Parliament Hill, Ottawa
WHEN: May 29, 2012, around 1300 hour
WHO: All unionized workers in the country, as well as the public, are invited to join us
WHY: To protest a bill that will force Teamsters members back to work 
The Teamsters Union represents 125,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.

The Teamsters Union represents 125,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.

Stéphane Lacroix, Director of Communications, Teamsters Canada
Mobile: [phone]
Office: 450-682-5521 x236
Email: [email protected]