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Locomotive engineers serve Canadian Pacific with strike notice

Feb.12--THE Canadian Pacific is warning customers to brace for a strike of its 3,000 locomotive engineers and conductors after the Teamsters union declared its intention to strike as early as February 15.

"CP will deploy qualified management employees to maintain a reduced freight service on its Canadian network. CP will work with its customers to advise them on how this work stoppage will affect them," said a company press release.

"CP's offers included wage increases, better benefit plans, and the re-instatement of the Employee Share Purchase Plan in a long-term agreement," said CP vice president Peter Edward.

"We also proposed a model that will improve the scheduling of regular time off and quality of life while enhancing our service and efficiency, but the union has not been interested," he said.

Not so, said the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) website.

"CP negotiators have admitted their line up model is completely unpredictable and they are simply unable to fix it. CP is either unwilling or unable to comply with the collective agreements that require train crews stop operating and obtain rest after 10 continuous hours of work," said TCRC president Douglas Finnson.

Said Mr Edwards: "Canadian Pacific is committed to finding a workable solution with the union and continues to bargain in good faith."

CP said it had asked the Teamsters to start bargaining on a new contract in December 2013, a full year before it was set to expire.

"And despite the union's earlier commitment to consider protecting grain shipments and commuter service in Montreal, it appears now that will not be the case,N" said a statement from the railway.

The Teamsters are in Montreal meetings with CP with the assistance of Canadian Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services.

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