Via Rail gets strike notice from CAW

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s ... otice.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Canadian Auto Workers union has issued a 72-hour strike notice to Via Rail.

The union, which represents about 2,000 customer service, on-board service and maintenance workers, will be in a legal strike position as of Thursday.

The union says workers won’t walk off the job if a deal can be reached by June 14, with a 12:01 a.m. ET deadline.

Contract talks have been ongoing since October.

Unions shouldn't be telling VIA management how to run its business, or be telling the Canadian government how to budget and appropriate funds. It's the budget cuts (less subsidy) that is forcing VIA to cut trains. That's means VIA needs less workers to run those fewer trains, and the reason why the union is upset.
Never-the-less, unions should stay out of running any business and leave that task to management. They should stick to representing workers demands on safety, benefits, and wages. It's management's job to actually run the company.
The results are never good when unions attempt to run the companies.

I think this is more a political statement than "trying to run the company". I hope their efforts are fruitful & not futile. Ill guess we'll have to wait & see.

electricron wrote:Unions shouldn't be telling VIA management how to run its business, or be telling the Canadian government how to budget and appropriate funds. It's the budget cuts (less subsidy) that is forcing VIA to cut trains. That's means VIA needs less workers to run those fewer trains, and the reason why the union is upset.
Never-the-less, unions should stay out of running any business and leave that task to management. They should stick to representing workers demands on safety, benefits, and wages. It's management's job to actually run the company.
The results are never good when unions attempt to run the companies.

That's exactly why Margaret Thatcher put her iron foot down and flat out said "no" to coal miners' unreasonable demands in the UK during the 1980s. Sounds like Parliament in Canada could use such an attittude here. It's bad enough VIA has been cut down to the size it's at currently.

From what I read, the concerns of the union do not involve telling VIA how to run the company. The recent cutbacks in service resulted in 200 full-time positions being eliminated. VIA said that was 9% of its unionised work force. The union was not trying to restore these positions. The main concern appeared to be pensions. The issues in this potential strike are not analogous to the infamous battles in the UK between Margaret Thatcher and the miners.

This is just one of many news reports regarding the potential strike:

http://www.thestar.com/business/2013/06 ... rails.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

NH2060 wrote:

electricron wrote:Unions shouldn't be telling VIA management how to run its business, or be telling the Canadian government how to budget and appropriate funds. It's the budget cuts (less subsidy) that is forcing VIA to cut trains. That's means VIA needs less workers to run those fewer trains, and the reason why the union is upset.
Never-the-less, unions should stay out of running any business and leave that task to management. They should stick to representing workers demands on safety, benefits, and wages. It's management's job to actually run the company.
The results are never good when unions attempt to run the companies.

That's exactly why Margaret Thatcher put her iron foot down and flat out said "no" to coal miners' unreasonable demands in the UK during the 1980s. Sounds like Parliament in Canada could use such an attittude here. It's bad enough VIA has been cut down to the size it's at currently.

Thatcher gutted the coal mining industry and created hardship for thousands. Hardly comparable to via trying to stabilize a service based industry in which they provide the public with transportation. Yes, it is sad they have to threaten strike to get a basic thing done, but that is the way it seems to be with administration they are dealing with in Ottawa. I am sure in the long term these issues will find a solution and cuts reversed to an extent.

The UK coal mines were nationalized and rarely profitable. It's not unreasonable to ask for a coal mine to pay for itself.