In response to Ed Dodge’s letter to management:

-          Why did the Union not have their entire negotiating team at the last round of bargaining?

The Union informed the Company in advance that we would not be bringing in our entire negotiating team but would have them on stand-by.  The offer made by the company was not acceptable.  The BLE/RCTC made a verbal counter offer through the mediator. This offer was rejected by the company.

-          Where does the Union stand on the Pension issues?

The company’s demand is that the “consent provision” be reinstated into our Collective Agreement.  In other words when we have our 85 points under the pension plan, we still could not retire without the company’s consent. We cannot agree to this.

-          What was the Union’s stance on the benefit package?

Contrary to Mr. Dodge’s assertion that a 10% co-pay arrangement is “not a stripping of the RCTC benefit plan”, we all know that this is just the beginning and we are not prepared to start paying portions of the premium of our benefit plans.

-          What about transfer time between Montreal and Calgary?

Mr. Dodge’s statement would have both offices being paid 15 minutes transfer time but what he has failed to include is that we would now be paid 15 minutes straight time rather than the current overtime that we now receive.

-          What about the Compassionate Leave Arrangement?

This was a Union demand that mirrored the CN RCTC Collective Agreement.  What the Company has offered fails miserably to address the concerns raised by the Union and as such the Union has dropped the demand.  The Compassionate Leave was meant to address urgent personal issues that are not planned.

-          What was the Union’s demand for guaranteed earnings for spare employees?

CN RTC’s are all classed as “permanent assigned” (own a permanent position/desk) or “permanent unassigned” (do not own a permanent position/desk and are placed where required for operational requirements).  The Union dropped this demand earlier in the negotiations in an effort to reach a settlement.

What the Union has not dropped, however, is that RTC’s on CP Rail are worth as much as their counterparts on CN.  The Union is seeking to accomplish a similar rate structure as CN.  We all know the increase in traffic and workload and it is time for our members to be compensated for such.  To accept the proposal of a percentage increase when operating ratios drop below 74.9% and 73.0% when we have no control over the operating ratio is unacceptable.

-          What are the Union’s concerns with the consolidating of desks?

The Union’s major concern is that of “work overload” for the RTC.  Consolidation of  RTC desks must be a last resort, as we feel that such actions create safety concerns, increase stress levels, and do nothing to enhance productivity.