News Wire: CN reaches tentative labor agreement for signal, communications workers

[Brian Schmidt]

MONTREAL — Canadian National has reached a tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers System Council 11 on a new a labor contract that affects 700 workers in signal and communications-related jobs at CN. Detai...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/03/21-canadian-national-reaches-tentative-labor-agreement-for-signal-communications-workers

[Norm48327]

I gather from the article it only affects Canadian workers. True?

[CliqueofOne]

The union received an unprecedented 99% strike mandate approval. I had a 37 year career with the Signal Department, Canadian National Railways, and I’m still proud of the department, and the man and women in the rank & file. Although I’m coming up to my 10 year anniversary of my rebirth, I still follow just how horrendous the working conditions have become after I left. Even with Hillbilly Harrison gone on to lay waste on other unionised employees and collective bargaining, his legacy of the ‘Climate of Fear’ sadly continues.

 

 

March 17, 2017

Subject Strike Mandate

IBEW System Council No.11 Locals 2002, 2003, 2010, 2019, 2024, 2049, 2050, 2052, 2054, 2055, 2057and
2058

Sisters and Brothers

On behalf of your Negotiating Committee we want to express our extreme gratitude to all of you for taking the
time to cast your strike ballots. Your response is clear and overwhelmingly united. Your Negotiating Committee
asked for your support and 70% of you have responded with 99% percent of all ballots cast in favour of
supporting Strike action which represents 475 Yes votes, 6 No votes and 20 spoiled.

As of today, the negotiations are not progressing as we would have preferred. We are currently still in dispute
on Collective Agreement duration, wages, expenses, Company flexibility in hours of service, off region
agreements and SDU’s as well as other items. We have made progress on only a few smaller items which are
contingent on an overall settlement. At this time, there is no foreseeable settlement in the near future.

We are now approaching the expiration of the “cooling off” period. (23:59 EST March 20 2017) Due to the lack
of progress despite our efforts to negotiate a good faith settlement we are left with no choice but to file a Notice
to Strike with Canadian National Railway. Additional updates will be provided as they become available.

We will continue to bargain in good faith however we will be contacting all the locals shortly to discuss and
finalize Strike plans.

Together We Stand, Divided We Will Beg

[Electroliner 1935]

While working on the Pennsylvania RR, in the late 50's, there was a strike and it was the only time I got unemployment compensation from the government. I benefited from union rules as a management generally had the union's benefits as a floor for what management got, health care, vacation, etc. But, I found most union workers were great to work with, smart, and worked hard. I have never understood why some highly educated corporate people and others want to denigrate, and try to pick fights with people who are human beings and deserve decent treatment. It doesn't make them better by putting others down. As Rodney King said, "Can't we just get along?"

[BaltACD]

Electroliner 1935

While working on the Pennsylvania RR, in the late 50's, there was a strike and it was the only time I got unemployment compensation from the government. I benefited from union rules as a management generally had the union's benefits as a floor for what management got, health care, vacation, etc. But, I found most union workers were great to work with, smart, and worked hard. I have never understood why some highly educated corporate people and others want to denigrate, and try to pick fights with people who are human beings and deserve decent treatment. It doesn't make them better by putting others down. As Rodney King said, "Can't we just get along?"

In today's Class 1 railroad world most non-contract (officials) are hired off the street at nominally the cheapeast pay rate the companies can entice them with, often times distrubingly close to minimum wage rates.  In many cases these individuals have college degrees and a lot of those have student loans to pay back.  Once they have been on the property a while and come to the realization of what the craft work rules and pay rates are all about, they come to the realization that the company's recruitment of them was a scam.  They complain to their superior and are told will give you a raise when X happens and you will get some 'bonus' money depending on the company's profits in the future.  That will keep them quiet for maybe a year, maybe less.  They then find out X will never happen.  While the 'bonus' may happen, in real terms it is peanuts.  As this scenario plays out they continue to get madder and madder.  They can't take their frustrations out on their Boss or the system he represents, so their frustrations go to those no good, lazy overpaid UNION employees that are making more money with more time off than they are.  When it comes to getting increases or promotions, everything is based upon your current salary, not the salary of the former incumbent of the position you got promoted to. Being hired from the outside, they have no 'protection' if the Boss, for whatever the reason real or imaginary doesn't like them - they are escorted from the property before the end of business today.   Everyone that hires directly into non-contract status believe they will be on the fast lane to the Executive Suite and they keep reaching for the brass ring.

I originally hired out in a craft and qualified and obtained seniority in a different craft, then I got promoted to a non-contract 'management' position.  I was told that I was getting a 15% increase over my contract pay rate when I took the promotion and got $700 a month (8400 a year).  My W-2 for that year was $8800 - knowing my non-contract pay didn't exceed $700 a month, where was my 15% increase?????

I stayed with various non-contract positions for 20 years until my boss decided I wasn't 'his kind of guy'!  The look in his eyes when I asked what the procedure was to exercise my Train Dispatchers Seniority was priceless - turned that sickass smile of his upside down in a instant (I got information less than 2 years later that all those responsible for my 'downfall' had all been fired for various reasons.)

So all in all, I only worked for the company and it's successors for 51.5 years and earned more than many so called 'managers'; and they all resented it.

It took me a while to realize - 'I work for money, not prestige!'  Prestige doesn't buy anything, money does!