Canadian agency orders representation election at CPR, UTU says

The Canada Industrial Relations Board recently ordered an election to determine labor-union representation for Canadian Pacific Railway's 4,800 running-trade employees in Canada, according to a news item on United Transportation Union's Web site.

UTU sought the election — to be conducted between Dec. 17 and Jan. 30 — at the urging of Canadian Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers members, who oppose BLE's plan to merge with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, UTU officials said. The Council of Canadian Railway Operating Unions comprising UTU and BLE currently represents the employees.

Locomotive engineers, conductors, baggage men, brakemen, car retarder operators, yardmen, switch tenders, yardmasters, assistant yardmasters or locomotive firemen (helpers) hired by CPR on or before July 10, 2003, are eligible to vote.

Ballot questions will ask workers if they oppose representation by the Teamsters during bargaining, and if they wish to be represented by the council, BLE or UTU.