According to a recent bulletin published by Human Resources Development Canada, most industries averaged wage increases of between 2.2 and 3.2%, in 2002 / 2003, Air Traffic Controllers have just settled a contract for wage increases of 2.5%, 2.5% and 2.75% over three years and IWA Canada in the interior have reached a tentative settlement of 11% over three years In March, B.C. Longshoremen settled a contract for 12.8% wage increase over 51 months. It took the ILWU and BCMEA one year to hammer out an agreement, the first longshore contract in over thirty years that was reached without the involvement of a federally appointed mediator. Maybe there is hope for us yet, but for the railway to refuse to consider any wage percentage increase, and to decline any settlement without huge concessions is contemptuous, and a slap in the face to any and every employee that risks life and limb moving boxcars.
How management can reward itself with gross bonuses, considering the termination of the Seaspan-barge contract, Tumbler Ridge coal service, selling BCR Marine, closing Intermodal (the first piggyback service in western Canada), abandoning plans to refurbish the Royal Hudson Locomotive, and terminating passenger service, is beyond me.
BC Rail is pretending to be the safest railway in Canada, but I have no doubt that they are the cheapest railway in Canada.
Source: The Official Newsletter Of The United Transportation Union Locals 1778 and 1923 (Summer, 2003)
