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CAW continues their support of the striking UTU across Canada
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Hundreds and hundreds of CAW members have been turning up on UTU picket lines and rallies all across the Canada as a
show of support to the UTU and their strike against CN, which began at 00:01 hours February 10th. Regional Locals within
CAW National Council 4000 and Local 100 and its various Lodges have kept in close contact with the various UTU strike
headquarters to offer their assistance.
CAW members and local representatives recently attended rallies at Edmonton's CN Walker Yard on Saturday, February 17th
and Winnipeg's Symington Yard on Sunday, February 18th. The rallies included participation of the various district labour
councils, labour federations, other unions, MPs and MLAs.
Yesterday (Feb.19), CAW National President Buzz Hargrove issued a Call Letter to all CAW Local Presidents and CAW staff to
give their full support during this time of need by UTU-Canada members.
A Railfax bulletin was also issued calling on all 265,000 members of the CAW from coast to coast to coast to continue with
their full support of the UTU. The CAW Rail membership, in addition to CN, includes CP Rail, VIA Rail, Ontario Northland,
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, Savage Alberta Railway and many other railway short lines.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) rendered its decision yesterday regarding the legality of the current strike
between UTU-Canada and CN, following CN's application to the Board to declare the strike illegal. The three-member board
panel headed by CIRB vice-chair Julie Durette issued an oral ruling rejecting CN's argument. The written reasons for the
decision are to be released later.
Today (Feb.20), Federal Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn said in the House of Commons that he has prepared
legislation to order the 2,800 striking UTU workers back to work, a move that would end the 10-day strike. No date was given
when the legislation would be introduced and a vote held. Federal back-to-work legislation has been enacted 31 times since
1950, including six times in the railway industry, most recently in 1995. Whether such a law would pass in the current minority
Parliament is unclear.
Related:
CIRB rules UTU strike is legal - Feds consider back-to-work order
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