11 January 2008
CP Rail Shop Workers Vote for Strike Mandate
CP Rail could be facing a strike by its shop craft workers as
early as 29 Jan 2008 if a new contract isn't reached by then, the Canadian Auto Workers said Friday.
The union - which represents 2,500 of the railway's skilled trade workers at 22 locations across Canada - said 85 percent of the
members who voted gave it a strike mandate.
"Our members are rallying strong behind the bargaining committee because they're intent on getting a decent contract," said
Tom Murphy, president of CAW Local 101.
"With CP having years of record-breaking profits, we feel it's time for CP to come to the table and give members
their just reward for their years of hard work," he added.
The two sides have been in talks since last September. The union said the railway is asking for "significant concessions" and
said the two sides are "far apart."
The strike deadline is one minute after midnight on 29 Jan 2008. CP Rail is due to release its fourth-quarter
and full-year 2007 financial and operating results on the same day. Analysts expect it to report 2007 earnings of $4.27 a
share.
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