SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the Teamster's Rail Conference initiated a strike against the Canadian National Railway (CN) today in an effort to resolve a longstanding contract dispute. BMWED's strike targets properties of the former Grand Trunk Western, Detroit Toledo & Ironton, and Detroit Toledo & Shore Line portions of the CN.

The strike and related lawsuit were initiated by BMWED after many months of attempts to resolve the dispute through bargaining and mediation. However, CN has now failed and refused to exert every reasonable effort to make an agreement, to settle the dispute, and to bargain with the BMWED in good faith as required under provisions of the Railway Labor Act (RLA). As a result BMWED struck in order to resolve the dispute.

BMWED served contract demands on CN in December 2004. The parties bargained and participated in mediation with the National Mediation Board through March 2006. Just prior to the March 2006 mediation sessions, CN suddenly took a giant step backward by submitting new proposals that would decimate longstanding employee rights. Among other things, CN proposed to eliminate existing seniority rights, give CN a free hand in contracting-out all maintenance of way work, allow CN complete discretion in making work assignments and impose unprecedented huge and annually increasing health insurance contributions.

The parties have not met since March 2006 even though BMWED has written repeatedly to CN requesting direct negotiations between the parties. CN has continued its refusal to meet directly with BMWED negotiators, and they have refused to offer alternative dates to schedule bargaining.

CN's actions violate the Railway Labor Act because CN has failed and refused to make every reasonable effort to settle the dispute, has failed to bargain in good faith, and failed to meet with the designated representative of its employees. Due to CN's continuing failure and refusal to bargain in good faith, the BMWED has been forced to strike the carrier in an effort to resolve the dispute.

BMWED represents approximately 250 maintenance of way employees who construct, maintain, inspect and repair the tracks, right of way, and structures at CN Railway.

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UPDATE 2-Strike hits part of CN Rail's U.S. operations

Reuters: Jul 19, 2006

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 19 - Track maintenance workers on part of Canadian National Railway's (CNR.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) U.S. operations walked off the job in a contract dispute on Wednesday, but the company called the strike illegal.

The Teamsters union said the strike by about 250 employees on the former Grand Trunk Western, Detroit Toledo & Ironton, and Detroit Toledo & Shore Line portions of CN was over issues such as seniority rights and contracting out of work.

Canadian National spokesman Mark Hallman said the company was "going to continue to run the railroad." The lines involved in the dispute are in Michigan and northwestern Ohio, and the strike does not include CN's other U.S. operations.

"We don't believe it is going to have any significant impact," Hallman said. "We deem this strike to be an illegal one, and we're going to take appropriate action to end the illegal walkout."

The union said it walked off the job to protest the company's failure to bargain in good faith. The two sides have not met since March, and the union said the company has refused its request to return to the bargaining table.

Canadian National submitted a proposal prior to the March mediated session that would "decimate longstanding employee rights," the Teamsters' Maintenance of Way Employees unit said in a press release.

Canadian National refused to comment on the contract issues.

The workers last contract was signed in April 2001, and the union served its demands for this round of negotiations in December 2004.

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Rail workers strike CN in Flint, Michigan

WJRT: (07/19/06) 
By Matt Franklin

Union says there's been no contract for 18 months

FLINT -- Teamsters railway workers in Mid-Michigan and across the region have launched a strike against Canadian National Railway.

Track maintenance workers this morning walked off the job after a long-standing contract dispute with the company.

The workers say they have been without a contract for nearly a year and a half, and they've had enough.

At 6 this morning, about 17 track maintenance workers took to the picket lines  with the support of  other CN railway union members.

The workers, who construct, maintain, inspect, and repair railway tracks, picketed in front of the Canadian National Yard on Bristol Road.

Members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division say, so far,  no union workers have crossed the picket lines.

A spokesperson for Canadian National Yard says the company is trying to maintain the same standard of operation  and it is using management staff to perform various duties.

Workers say the company is asking for cuts in health care benefits and reduced wages.

"About 10 years ago, it seems like I was making more money than I'm making now," said Ted Portis, who has worked with the railroad since 1975 and is four years from retirement.

The strike was initiated by the union after, it claims, months were spent attempting to come up with a contract.

The last time both sides met was March 2006 and the union says the company refuses to set a date for another meeting.

"We can't even get them to come to the table to negotiate the terms of the contract," said Jason Richert, the vice president of BMWE, Local 109.

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UPDATE 1- Strike suspended on CN Rail's US Grand Trunk line

Reuters: Thu Jul 20, 2006

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 20 - Striking track workers on a portion of Canadian National Railway Co.'s (CNR.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) U.S. network returned to work on Thursday after agreeing with the company to resume contract talks.

About 250 workers on the former Grand Trunk Western, Detroit Toledo & Ironton, and Detroit Toledo & Shore Lines walked off the job on Wednesday to protest what they said was CN's refusal to bargain in good faith.

The sides plan to meet Friday and have invited a federal mediator to join the negotiations, officials said.

They have also asked the courts to postpone a hearing on a preliminary injunction request until July 26 to allow time for talks. The union said it will suspend its strike and picketing during the interval.

"I am cautiously optimistic that we can reach an agreement without further work stoppages," Chief Executive Hunter Harrison told analysts in a conference call on CN's second quarter earnings, which were also released Thursday.

The company and the workers, who are represented by a unit of the Teamsters union, are at odds over issues such as employee seniority rights, health-care payments and the railroad's contracting out of work.

The previous contract signed in 2001 expired in December 2004, according to the union, which had accused CN before the walkout of refusing to come to the negotiating table.

A Teamsters spokesman said the picket lines had been honored by other unions, but CN said it was able to maintain regular freight service using management crews.

The affected tracks were in Michigan, northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. The strike did not involve Canadian National's other operations in the United States or in Canada.