Brothers and Sisters,
 
As I previously reported on the website,

(http://www.teamsters.ca/en/news/1122/cp_tpe_update)

both Northern and Southern Track programs will have reduced staffing levels in 2009.  We disagree with the company's decision to defer much needed steel and tie work for budgetary reasons. We are working with Transport Canada to ensure that the track work CP is cutting does not increase the areas of the infrastructure that are in a deteriorated and unsafe state.
 
However at the present moment, CP is not planning to re instate any of the projects previously cut, so we are left with dozens of our membership unable to hold TP&E positions in Ontario. I found this to be ludicrous considering that they are planning to hire dozens of new employees in Manitoba and in Alberta.
 
After lengthy discussions with Track Programs General Manager Scott Sutherland, we have arrived at an agreement (attached) which will allow Ontario TP&E employees to voluntarily opt to work in MB or AB as Extra Gang Labourers in place of the company hiring new people. And we also signed the NOSA 8/6 agreement as this saves the company a fair bit of capital (as well as being beneficial to our people in NOSA) and then that money could be applied to expenses for the people going out of province. In other words we found a way to lessen the impact, improve the conditions and mutual benefit to both parties.
 
By friday night around 2100 we had the agreement pretty well worked out and then fine tuned the wording over the weekend and signed off this morning. This allows forty eight (48) of our members an option they would have been left without and also allows the bids to be sent out on Monday (or Tuesday possibly, considering the usual standard of work from the bid/award people).
 
I want to thank Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Freeborn for their time on this, as well as Director Brake, Local Chairperson Wade Phillips and Machine Operator Troy Easter for their advice and support. This is the way that the system is supposed to work.  Instead of accepting a "Suck it up, Buttercup" attitude, we put our heads together and worked on solutions.
 
If you have any questions do not hesitate to call myself at 1 800 567 0571 or Director Bill Brake at 613 733 4456.
 
Stay safe, stay strong, stay united.
 
Bill Brehl
President
TCRC MWED

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