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Canadian arbitrator rules against unions in Northlander dispute
Don’t know what the problem is with the union. Regardless of the outcome, they are still going to get all of their fat cat benefits, paid for in full by the Canadian taxpayers. If anything, you would think they would be looking forward to getting paid for doing nothing. Or is there very fine print in the contract which cuts off union management pay when the train stops running?
I was on the last Northlander from Cochrane last Friday.
First, this is a separate operating agency of the provincial government of Ontario and not a federal government department. Secondly, as a separate agency, their pension is not funded by the government. Like many pension funds, theirs took a hit during the recession and is currently underfunded. Their ongoing benefits will have to be negotiated during the wrapping up negotiations.
This is strictly a crass political decision because there are few votes in the North. It does however, make it difficult and expensive for northerners to get to medical appointments down south. It makes the government look like they are managing, when the cuts generated are minuscule compared to the debt.
Further to the end of the Northlander, Via Rail runs a regular service from Sudbury ON to White River ON using Budd cars with CPR crews [ union people ] Can this type of service not be taken over by VIA Budd cars using existing { union crews ]. It is simply a matter of transfering running rights from the Province of Ontario to the Gov!t of Canada.Northern Ontario deserves and needs a regular Passenger train servicing the NORTH.???
Big mistake to stop the trains running to the far north lots of folks still use the system,perhaps a cut back in service would be more prudent.
The government continues to pour money into the trucking and airline industries, but some how balks at trains. The Northlander is needed by the people who use it. It’s good the unions stepped up and entered the fight.