IBEW members give union a mandate to strike CN Rail

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 27, 2005

ATTN: NEWS AND BUSINESS EDITORS

IBEW members give union a mandate to strike CN Rail

(MONTREAL) – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
bargaining committee representing CN signal and communications workers
today released results of a strike ballot.

“IBEW members are ready to strike to back their negotiating committee in
contract talks with Canadian National Railways,” says Kevin Kearns, IBEW
System Council Number 11 Senior General Chairman. Ninety per cent of
the ballots returned approved taking strike action.

IBEW members install, maintain and repair CN’s signals and
communications systems including highway warning systems, fibre optic
networks and the centralized traffic control system. The union
represents about 730 CN employees across Canada.

“The union has got nowhere on wages, benefits, quality of life issues
with respect to standby and measures to recognize the technical
expertise required for our jobs,” Kearns says.

Kearns says the union could strike as early as midnight March 2 but will
meet with CN one more time on March 9 with the aid of Human Resources
Development Canada. He notes the union must await a Canadian Industrial
Relations Board ruling on a maintenance of activities agreement before
it can legally strike.

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Results of vote

Ballots sent 744

Ballots returned 566 76% returned

Ballots for a strike 504 89% in favour [:)]

Ballots against a strike 58 10% not in favour

4 spoiled ballots

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Go to it guys! Show those b******s what’s what!

After all, you can always get jobs with CP!!

Signed,

The Old Timer - a veteran of the Rock Island strike of 1980

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Strike authorization votes of this nature are relatively routine in labor disputes and do not indicate that the union will strike. It only provides the union negotiators with an additional option if contract negotiations break down.

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Hi CliqueofOne

I’m just wondering … why the “thumbs up” in the title of your post?

Isn’t a strike a bad thing? Or are you happy that management sees a show of solidarity during negotiations. Or do you want to go out on strike to strongly make a point to someone or something?

Line repairmen and women of Jersey Central Power and Light, a large utility company here in NJ, owned by the national GPU, are in thier fourth month of a strike. Pending the final outcome of yesterday’s membership vote on the company’s latest proposal, of which union leadership urged a no vote, JCP&L has informed the state that it will begin the hiring of permanent replacement workers.

I’ve never been in an union, never had anyone negoatiate on my behalf, but I just feel sorry for these people and thieir families.

Jim