27 May 2007
Restrictions Imposed on Picketing
Striking Canadian Pacific Railway
track-maintenance employees yesterday were handed court-ordered restrictions on their ability to block trucks
from leaving a Calgary CP freight facility.
Calgary Alberta - Striking employees at Canadian Pacific
Railway Ltd. yards in Calgary and Edmonton were handed court-imposed restrictions on picket-line activity
yesterday, while union brethren in Vancouver awaited judicial word on its line.
Picketing CP Rail workers have been slowing truck traffic in and out of the company's intermodal terminals across the country, holding
up individual trucks for five to 30 minutes at a time to protest failed contract negotiations.
Injunctions were handed down last week to workers in Winnipeg and Vaughn, Ont.
A second consecutive day of hearings in Vancouver continued yesterday, after a first hearing last week was adjourned.
CP Rail said the delays were creating safety concerns in the yards, but denied the actions were impeding regular train services.
About 3,200 track-maintenance workers walked off the job 16 May 2007 after months of contract negotiations
over wage increases and quality-of-life issues failed to be resolved.
Now entering its second week, the strike by CP Rail track-maintenance workers has raised the spectre of possible train
disruption due to maintenance issues.
William Brehl, Teamster maintenance-of-way division leader, said the union was concerned track maintenance was
deteriorating because of inexperienced crews.
"They can't fix all the defects like we can," Brehl said from a picket line in Pitt Meadows.
The workers will keep to the picket line "for as long as it takes," Brehl said, adding he has been in contact with federal
mediators, but has not met with CP Rail since the strike started.
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