READY, STRONG, UNITED FOR MAINTENANCE OF WAY EMPLOYEES By Wade Philips, President, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – Maintenance of Way Employees Division
"We have been able to resolve over 300 grievances this year with Canadian Pacific and put over 1 million dollars back into our members pockets." Getting Justice For Our Members Since being elected in January of 2021, we have forged ahead with improving the lives of TCRC-MWED members. We engaged our members and found areas where continue to make improvements, with the goal of making our members proud to be Teamsters. Some of the issues involved improving communication, dealing with grievances faster, and resolving other major long-outstanding issues. We have done our best to listen to members and act on what we have learned. We are here to improve over the long term and the executive board continues to strive for improvement on all points that were raised, and to find long term and sustainable solutions. We have found ways to resolve stubborn grievances. I can proudly report that through hard work and the introduction of new processes, we have been able to resolve over 300 grievances this year with Canadian Pacific and put over 1 million dollars back into our members’ pockets. We have added mediated arbitration as a process that has seen 100 cases heard since January 2021 through this process.
"TOGETHER, AS RAILROADERS, WE STOOD OUR GROUND WHEN CANADA NEEDED US THE MOST." - Baylee Ouwens, during COVID-19
We have forged new and stronger relationships with the other bargaining units that represent workers at CP Rail. Recently, we have come together as a group to fight the CP drug and alcohol policy that affects all our members. This is being led by our group and ultimately, we are going to get justice for our members as it relates to the use of cannabis, which is a legal substance in Canada now. CP’s policy of banning the use of cannabis for 28 days prior to work is simply not in keeping with science and we cannot sit idly and accept a policy that negates our members’ rights. While we all hold fast that alcohol and drugs have no place in a safe workplace, we do believe our members’ personal time is worth fighting for and protecting. As long as our members come to work fit and properly rested, the company should not have any say in what we do in our off time.
26
