Brothers and Sisters,
 
As you all are aware, we are going through a tough time right now. The country is seeing rising unemployment, most of us have lost money from our homes and/or investments.  CPRail, OVR and other lines are feeling the pinch and are laying off record numbers of employees.  Managers have their bonuses tied directly to budgets and are cutting costs (and corners) everywhere that they can. The instability, uncertainty and air of desperation surrounding the CP workplace is playing havoc on everyone's lives.
 
But yesterday I recieved the following message by e-mail.  I felt it was message worth sharing and asked Jason if I could post it on the web.  So here it is verbatim (except I took out the manager's name, as I hadn't talked to him and one unrelated line at the end).
 
One other note.  I've known Ed for quite a few years.  I met him first in the early '90's when I was a local chair and he was a group 1 operator on the AB tie crew (which was doing some work in the Shuswap) and we worked together to clear up a bunch of issues with the conditions of the boarding cars.  Since that time we have been friends and have dealt with many collective agreement, H&S and general quality of life concerns, as he has spent years elected to the Executive of his local lodge. Ed also gets hold of the Division at least once a year to gather up donated items to be raffled off for charity (Children's Hospital is especially important to Ed). 

Ed is a good guy, always has been, always will be.  And Jason is right.... he exemplifies the definition of Brotherhood.
 
Here's to you Ed and to all of the Brother and Sisters like yourself, who are not out there looking for something to take but instead are looking for something to give.
 
Stay safe, stay strong, stay united
 
 
Bill Brehl
 
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Today I found out the true meaning of brotherhood. My foreman is Ed Gray, he has been with the company for 30 years and most of it was in the B&B in Lethbridge, Alberta. The other day he gives me a call and wanted to know (the manager's) phone # . I then asked why he was calling him. Ed wanted to know, if he stayed as a foreman here instead of going to the gang would the 4th guy in the department be laid off. The Manager then told him that the chances are pretty good that the 4th person would be laid off sooner than later because we can only support 3 people in this area. So Ed decided to go to the gang instead of staying as a foreman. I asked him why? He then told me that he has had many good years and that he has been able to provide for his family but the younger gentleman (4th guy) is just starting out and he wanted to see him not get laid off. This is a very good example of brotherhood and there are a lot of brothers that could learn from this. Ed will be at the union conference and I hope that you could give him a complement on his behaviour because not only will he be away from home this year, but took a pay cut just so that 1 guy could keep his job. I am still new to the company but have been with other unions and this kind of behaviour is very rare as most people worry about themselves instead of others. 

Jason Kuntz
Bench Carpenter/Teamsters Health & Safety Rep