United in Struggle

The East Van Workers Assembly (EVWA) is outraged by the federal government’s decision to impose binding arbitration on over 9,000 workers who have been locked out by Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CPKC) Railways. In doing so, the Liberals have steamrolled over the legally protected collective bargaining rights of workers in Canada, potentially put essential workplace safety regulations on the chopping block, and demonstrated yet again that their ultimate allegiance lies with the monopoly capitalist ruling class.

Earlier this week, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) served strike notice to CN. In retaliation, both CN and CPKC took steps to lock out their workers, followed less than a day later by Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon’s decision to impose a contract on the union. Despite a long and drawn out period of bargaining, the TCRC reports that CN and CPKC have adamantly refused to back down from their plans to slash existing safety standards guaranteeing rest time and reasonable scheduling. These protections, which already fall far short of what railway workers need to do their jobs, are essential safeguards against catastrophic derailments like we saw in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec in 2013 or East Palestine, Ohio last year. There were 47 deaths in the Lac-Mégantic disaster.

The two railway giants, which together are valued at over $200 billion, also want the power to force workers to relocate to other parts of the country as they see fit. Taken together, these cuts represent nothing less than a full-throated assault on the rights and welfare of railway workers and our communities. “Throughout this process,” says TCRC President Paul Boucher, “CN and CPKC have shown themselves willing to compromise rail safety and tear families apart to earn an extra buck.”

EVWA denounces the cruel disregard for the safety and livelihoods of CN and CPKC workers, the curtailment of their union rights, and the clear collusion between the railways and government to engineer a forced “agreement” in the corporations’ favour. The nearly immediate response of the government to the rail shutdown shows the fear they have about mass worker struggles grinding the economy to a halt, and the enormous power that unions can wield when we unite and fight. We applaud the Teamsters’ refusal to immediately pack up their CPKC picket lines, and offer our absolute support and solidarity to all the railway workers as they continue their struggle. 

Solidarity with railway workers!

Down with dangerous working conditions!

Down with corporate-government collusion!

Fight to win a real contract for workers!