Canadian Labour Reporter

CP, Teamsters confl ict over layoff s CALGARY/ LAVAL, QUE. — The layoff of about 500 mainte- nance-of-way crews by Cana- dian Pacific (CP) does not bode well for the Canadian railway system in the event of a major disaster, according to the Team- sters Canada Rail Conference- Maintenance of Way Employees Division. As a result, Transport Cana- da must intervene and apply the Railway Safety Management System Regulations, 2015, said the union. "CP is in clear violation of the law and Transport Canada has all the tools it needs to order the reinstatement of these work- ers," said Gary Doherty, presi- dent of the Teamsters division. However, these claims are "incorrect, misleading and in- flammatory," said CP, adding "CP has in fact been working closely with Transport Canada, meeting or exceeding all re- quirements, as well as all ap- plicable requirements of the union's collective agreement. CP said it must adjust staff- ing levels according to business ebbs and flows associated with global markets and operational efficiency gains. The layoffs af- fect 260 current maintenance- of-way positions and 240 vacant positions. And the layoffs will not im- pact CP's commitment to safe- ty, said CP. "The frequency of both vi- sual inspections and ultrasonic rail flaw detection remains un- changed. CP will continue to meet or exceed all regulatory requirements for track inspec- tion and maintenance as set out in the Track Safety Rules." Since the staffing level changes pose no risk to em- ployees, the public, property or the environment, CP said it con- cluded a risk assessment was not required and Transport Canada agreed with this conclusion. New agreement ratifi ed by staff at 53 Ontario hospitals TORONTO — Members of the Hospital Professionals Division of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) ratified the tentative agreement reached by their bargaining team on May 29, according to OPSEU. In voting over the past month, members working at 53 Ontario hospitals voted 92 per cent in fa- vour of the deal. The agreement was ratified by 97 per cent of the participating local bargaining units. The new contract includes wage increases or lump sums for the first year that will match those awarded to the Ontario Nurses' Association, along with 1.4 per cent wage increases in the second and third years of the agreement, said the union. The three-year collective agreement also includes im- provements to benefits, be- reavement leave and the griev- ance procedure. The agreement covers 12,000 hospital professionals in more than 250 occupations includ- ing lab technologists, radiation technologists, respiratory thera- pists, lab assistants, physiothera- pists, occupational therapists, social workers and pharmacy technicians. LABOUR BRIEFS 2 Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2016 FORMERLY CLV REPORTS Serving labour relations professionals since 1956 www.labour-reporter.com Published weekly by omson Reuters Canada Ltd. Subscription rate: $595 per year Customer Service Tel: (416) 609-3800 (Toronto) (800) 387-5164 (outside Toronto) Fax: (416) 298-5106 Email: carswell.customerrelations@ thomsonreuters.com Website: www.carswell.com Director, Carswell Media Karen Lorimer Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Todd Humber Editor/Supervisor Sarah Dobson | (416) 649-7896 sarah.dobson@thomsonreuters.com Contributing Editors Mallory Hendry Jeff rey R. Smith Marketing Co-ordinator Keith Fulford | (416) 649-9585 keith.fulford@thomsonreuters.com © 2016 Carswell, a division of omson Reuters Canada Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher. e publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. If legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. e analysis contained herein represents the opinion of the authors and should in no way be construed as being either offi cial or unoffi cial policy of any governmental body. ISSN 0045-5113 Publications Registration 2089 Canadian Labour Reporter is part of the Canadian HR Reporter group of publications. Visit www.hrreporter.com for more information. Labour Reporter Canadian www.labourreporter.com Photo: Valentyn Ogirenko (Reuters) LABOUR LENS People take part in a rally organized by members of Ukrainian trade unions in Kiev on July 6. Participants demanded to increase the minimum standard of living and minimum offi cial wages, and to abolish the raising of tariff rates, according to local media.

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