Brothers and Sisters,
 
Just a reminder that negotiations begin with CPRail this July.  If you have suggestions for improvements to the contract, please get them in to your local lodge executive, your regional Director or to my office (by fax at 613 526 5149 or wbrehl@tcrcmwed.ca).  
 
We do have a volunteer 'focus' committee of two dozen members chosen from across the country, broken into four (4) groups, working on these demands.  By the end of next month, we should be near completion of compiling the list, after eliminating duplication and fine tuning.  At that point we will have finalized the negotiating team and will prepare the demands for submission to the Executive Board for approval.
 
This will be a challenging year for bargaining. There is no doubt about that.  The current state of the economy, both at home and abroad, will no doubt affect the strategies of both parties.  
 
When I review the recent memorandum coming out of CP's upper management, I would have to agree with  analysts who say that there is an "air of desperation" surrounding this company.  They are not exuding the confidence of other railways and seem to be all over the map, "nickel and diming" cost saving measures, while wasting huge sums of money in other areas.  I can only hope, like all shareholders, that they level out soon and start to apply a consistent approach.  If not, you can be sure that will affect bargaining as well.
 
We are seeing our maintenance forces, as well as infrastructure renewal projects, cut well beyond what we would consider reasonable and safe. They are reducing car and diesel shops across the country and hundreds of jobs have been cut in both mechanical and the running trades. And this is all happening while CP is still making a healthy profit. Many believe that the recession, which is striking many other industries a lot harder, may still get worse before it gets better.
 
This is the reality of the world we live in right now.  However, I believe to get through this there must be a stimulus.  Not necessarily to the banks, the corporations or the rich... but instead from the bottom up.  
 
I believe, as do many economists, that for us to get out of this recession, corporations and government cannot starve the working men and women.  Its simple. We need the money to buy the goods from the companies that contract the railways to haul their product. The last place anyone should be taking wages from is the consumer.  Once the consumer (us) cannot afford the products or services, then the whole system falls apart.  
 
I also believe that most reasonable people (including those in power) ultimately realize this and that even though some corporations will "push the envelope", cooler heads will prevail because to do otherwise is suicidal to their businesses and to all of our way of life.
 
I will agree with the CEOs and boards of directors that there will have to be some "belt tightening". But not at our level. We've been doing that for years. Our belts are so tight now that they are past the last notch.  The "belt tightening" will have to be at the 6, 7 and 8 figure compensation package level.
 
And I'm talking about real, honest, substantial changes. Instead of temporary layoffs of Unionized employees, how about a temporary cessation of all bonus and compensation packages aside from wages and goal share for all of management?  And limit their goal share to a maximum of 5%, like ours. One year of that would probably save more money than all the layoffs, in all the departments, for the next five years or better. Instead of cutting integral positions, make a temporary sacrifice of the exorbitant compensation packages for the good of the company.  
 
Get rid of the corporate jet instead of rationing water. I believe that you could fly everyday of the year on Air Canada for a fraction of what it costs just to have that thing. Plus they could be collecting air miles to help with later flights.
 
Have supervisors and managers park their trucks on company property "after hours" and make them use their own vehicles to go home, like the rest of us.  There are hundreds of vehicles across the country burning thousands of litres of gas with supervisors driving home and elsewhere on personal business, after hours.  I could understand them taking the vehicles home if they were responding to emergencies at night but the furthest travelling most of them do at two in the morning is to roll over and call out the Foreman (who has to drive his own vehicle to the toolhouse and get the company truck). Mr. Winters wrote about concerns for the environment when supplying bottled water, but those bottles are recyclable.  You can't recycle all these fossil fuel emissions.
 
All in all, there is a lot of "fat trimming" that could be done at higher levels and perhaps that's where they should be turning their eyes instead of to the people who inspect and maintain their infrastructure. Or instead of cutting the jobs of people who inspect and maintain the equipment. Equipment that the company is issuing safety alerts about, showing huge chunks of broken wheels being found beside the tracks. Looking at the size of the pieces being found, I think it calls for more direct action than simply telling people to be "extra vigilant". Perhaps they should re-hire and/ or call back some of the inspectors.
 
Regardless of all of the above, this company is feeling the financial crunch at the moment especially with its gigantic debt load over purchases like the DM&E.  There are ways to confidently, consistently and rationally approach crises but there is also the alternative of looking for short term gains with hair brained schemes. Whichever method is chosen, for certain it will be in the public (and shareholder) eye and whichever way the company operates during this next year or so, it will affect their future for years (and possibly for decades) to come.... for better or worse.
 
Stay safe, stay strong, stay united,
 
Bill Brehl
President
TCRC MWED