Brothers and Sisters,

The last little while has been quite busy trying to keep up with CP's cuts in manpower and budgets as well as the on-track collisions, CRV's and derailments.  I want to thank all of you for your support, your e-mails and calls really do help to boost the morale and strengthen our resolve.

We are the people who have been or are working out there on the tracks and structures, we know first hand what corners are being cut and the catastrophes that occur when they are.  We don't have PR office people spinning the numbers or manipulating the facts.  We live there.

We know the intimidation and we feel the retribution from the company when we question them. Even at my office and the offices of the Directors, we are given the cold shoulder, our calls ignored, they refuse to meet with us and our letters go unanswered. They leave us no choice but to go to Transport Canada for answers.

We are told they act this way because of "marching orders" from upper management. We are told that when we question safety it is like "acid in the veins" of the CEO and VP's.
Director Doherty and myself were told by a senior Labour Relations officer that the company "..would deal with.." us when we returned to the ranks.  Another senior officer told us that we have had the "gall" to question the company's decisions and that is why they react the way they do.

There are those in the company who seem to think that the best way to achieve the appearance of rail safety is to keep everything quiet.  But we don't want appearances...we need reality. We need safe railways.
So I just want to say thank you again...for keeping your eyes open, for reporting unsafe conditions, for questioning work that is being deferred....basically, I want to thank you for caring about this railway, its safety and the safety of all Canadian citizens.

Stay safe, stay strong, stay united

Bill Brehl
President
TCRC MWED