CN Deal Derailed

By 250 News

CN Rail cars were  sitting on a siding  when the first  round of job action started in February, now, customers are being advised they may have to face more delays. ( photo opinion250 archive)

Members of the United Transportation Union have rejected the  tentative contract worked out with   CN and  have resumed rotating strike action.

The vote was decisive, with  79.44% saying no,  while 20.56% said yes.

83%  of the 2800 membership  voted on the deal.

The Union’s International President, Paul Thompson, has approved a resumption of the strike action, with Vancouver and Kamloops the first to be called upon to  set up picket lines.

It isn’t clear  just what will happen if the Prince George Local is called upon to set up a picket line.  There  has been a great deal of turmoil between the Union’s International and Canadian leadership over the legality of the initial job action.  The International board of directors  ousted  UTU Canada General Chairman Rex Beatty and three other  UTU Canada officials, including Sylvia LeBlanc, a local negotiator.

That rift has left some wondering if  picket lines will ever be set up in Prince George,  and if they did appear, if any of the workers will honour them.

Meantime, CN’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Hunter Harrison  says he is disappointed "CN will work hard to maintain service for its customers during renewed labour disruption by the UTU. But our customers must appreciate the fact that CN service levels may be affected by the frequency, location and severity of the UTU’s rotating work actions."

The Union has written to the Federal Minister of  Labour requesting that  the  two sides be allowed to continue the collective bargaining process without the threat of back to work legislation and  arbitration. 

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