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CN: State of the Railroad Daily Update
Canadian Pacific Railway website

Unions Ratify Agreements with Canadian Pacific
--posted February 15, 2008
Canadian Pacific was notified by the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) today that the Memorandum of Settlement reached in January by Canadian Pacific and the CAW has now been ratified by the membership. The renewal collective agreement, which covers Canadian Pacific’s mechanical services employees in Canada, is three years in duration, extending to the end of 2010.

Canadian Pacific was notified on February 13th by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference that the Memorandum of Settlement reached in December by Canadian Pacific and the Teamsters has now been ratified by the membership. The Union, which represents 4500 Canadian Pacific conductors and locomotive engineers in Canada, confirmed a renewal collective agreement which is 5 years in duration, extending to the end of 2011.
CAW & Teamsters Unions Ratify Agreements

CPR - CAW - Tentative Agreement Reached
--posted January 28, 2008
The Canadian Pacific Railway announced yesterday that the parties have reached a tentative three year contract settlement with the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW), representing mechanical services employees. Details of the tentative agreement will be released following ratification of the agreement by union members.
CAW and Canadian Pacific reach tentative contract agreement

BCMEA ratifies contract
--posted February 19, 2008
The BCMEA reports that its Board of Directors has ratified the Tentative Longshore Memorandum of Agreement dated January 28, 2008.

ILWU ratifies contract
--posted February 16, 2008
The BCMEA reports the following update on February 15: The ILWU has ratified the Collective Agreement settlement reached on January 24, 2008. The BCMEA will proceed with a review of the Agreement with the Direct Employers Committee, the BCMEA Membership and the BCMEA Board of Directors and seek ratification of the agreement during the February 19 meeting of the BCMEA Board of Directors. Further updates will be provided as they occur.

ILWU Stop Work Meetings Scheduled for February 13, 2008
--posted February 12, 2008
The BCMEA has advised that there will be no work performed in the Port of Vancouver (excluding Deltaport) on the 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. shifts on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. Local 500 has scheduled a meeting with their members from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to review the terms of the tentative collective agreement and as such there will be no work performed on the 8:00 a.m. shift. Local 514 (foremen) have their regularly scheduled union meeting during the 4:30 p.m. shift on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. The BCMEA have been working with ILWU Officials to rectify this situation. Further updates will be issued as developments occur.


ILWU Endorses Tentative Collective Agreement
--posted February 11, 2008
The BCMEA has advised that the Longshore Caucus has endorsed the Tentative Collective Agreement reached two weeks ago. The Tentative Agreement will be presented to the ILWU membership on February 11, 12 and 13, 2008. ILWU membership will vote on the Agreement on Thursday and Friday February 14th and 15th in Vancouver. Results of the vote should be available on the night of Friday, February 15th or the morning of Saturday, February 16th. Further updates will be issued as developments occur.
Longshore Caucus endorses Tentative Collective Agreement

ILWU membership to vote Feb 13
--posted February 5, 2008
The ILWU membership vote on the tentative 3-year agreement will take place on Wednesday, February 13. Further updates will be issued as developments occur.

BCMEA/ILWU Labour Talks Update
--posted February 4, 2008
BCMEA and ILWU are meeting today to clarify the tentative agreement reached January 24. Further updates will be issued as developments occur.

BCMEA/ILWU Conciliation Update - Tentative Agreement Reached
--posted January 25, 2008
The BCMEA was pleased to announce that the parties have reached a tentative agreement with the Union for a three year collective agreement which will expire March 31, 2010. Further updates will be issued as developments occur.

BCMEA/ILWU Conciliation Update
--posted January 24, 2008
The BCMEA reported today that negotiations between the parties are continuing. The parties met on January 23rd until 8:00 pm and are continuing to meet through January 24th. The discussions continue to yield progress and a further narrowing of the issues between the parties. Further updates will be issued as developments occur.

BCMEA/ILWU Conciliation Update
--posted January 21, 2008
The BCMEA reported today that the Parties have now scheduled a return to the bargaining table on Wednesday January 23, 2008 to continue to negotiate towards agreement on a new collective agreement. This follows lengthy and productive negotiations last week and into the weekend that resulted in significant progress towards concluding a new agreement. Further updates will be issued as developments occur.

BCMEA/ILWU Conciliation Update
--posted January 21, 2008
The BCMEA reported that on January 17 and 18, 2008, the Parties met with Federal Conciliator John Rooney at Federal Mediation Services offices in Vancouver. Significant progress was made by the Parties towards reaching a new collective agreement. Following a 21-hour bargaining session commencing at 0900 Friday January 17 and concluding 0600 Saturday morning January 19, the Parties paused for rest and to review each other’s respective positions on the remaining outstanding issues. The BCMEA will be in contact with Conciliator Rooney Monday morning January 21, 2008. The Conciliator has advised the Parties that he remains available to continue to provide assistance and support to the BCMEA and ILWU bargaining teams as they work on resolving the remaining outstanding issues. Further updates will be issued as developments occur.

BCMEA/ILWU Conciliation Update
--posted January 16, 2008
Conciliation meetings between the BC Maritime Employers’ Association (BCMEA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union - Canada (ILWU) will continue on January 17 and 18. The parties can elect to continue talks beyond those meetings. The earliest the ILWU would be in a position to issue 72-hour strike notice would be February 9. The VFPA remains hopeful that conciliation talks will continue and that an agreement will be reached before February 9.

Conciliation dates determined
--posted December 14, 2007
The BCMEA advises that conciliation meetings will be held January 2 through 4 and January 7 through 11, 2008.

Parties agree to extend Conciliation period
--posted December 5, 2007
The BCMEA advises they have been in discussion with the Conciliation Officers and the ILWU and the Parties have now signed off an agreement to extend the Conciliation time period, pursuant to Section 75 (1) of the Canada Labour Code, until January 18, 2008.

Conciliation process has begun in support of longshore labour talks
--posted November 22, 2007
On November 21, the BCMEA (employer) reported that the conciliation process has begun. BCMEA began meeting with the Conciliation Officers Elizabeth Macpherson and John Rooney on Tuesday, November 20. Meetings will continue through November 28. Meetings will resume December 3.

Conciliation Officers appointed in support of longshore labour talks
--posted October 24, 2007
On October 19, the Minister of Labour jointly appointed two Conciliation Officers to deal with the dispute affecting the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada (Locals 500, 502 505, 508, 519). The Conciliation Officers are Ms. Elizabeth MacPherson and Mr. John Rooney.

The officers' mandate is subject to extension up to 60 days (December 18, 2007) from the date of appointment. Any extension beyond 60 days can be made only by mutual consent of the parties.

ILWU/Employer Talks
--posted October 12, 2007
On October 10, 2007, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Locals 500, 502, 505, 508 and 519 representing dock-side Longshore workers in British Columbia sent a letter to the Minister of Labour informing him that the union and employer have failed to reach a collective agreement.

The Minister can now appoint a conciliator, who will have 60 days to meet with both parties and prepare recommendations that the Minister may take back to both sides. No strike or lockout can occur within 21 days of the Minister receiving the report from the conciliator. As a result, no labour disruption can occur before January 2008.

The Vancouver Port Authority will work closely with government throughout this process and will keep customers informed.

CIRB Ruling
-- posted January 17
The Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) in their Dec 20, 2007 decision ruled that the ILWU's continuing refusal to apply for marine transportation clearance would constitute an illegal strike. Processing of applications by ILWU members and casuals working as foremen, head checkers and electricians at container terminals has started. Clearance is a condition of employment as of February 20, 2008. All members and casuals who wish to work at cruise facilities at Canada Place and Ballantyne Pier during the 2008 cruise season will be required to apply for clearance as well.

Minister Orders Marine Transportation Security Clearance Program Temporary Exemption Until February 20 2008 for Ports of Vancouver and Fraser River
-- posted November 30
Phase 1 of the Marine Transportation Security Clearance Program becomes effective on December 15, 2007. The program requires that ILWU employees entering certain areas and performing certain functions possess a Transport Canada Security Clearance.

The ILWU has refused to participate in the security clearance application process and has launched constitutional challenges to the legislation.

On November 30, 2007, under Section 12 of the Marine Transportation Security Act, the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastrucutre and Communities has authorized the Director General, Marine Security to issue a temporary exemption order from the Marine Security Clearance Program regulations effective until February 20, 2008 for the Ports of Vancouver and Fraser River.

During this period of time, terminal operators will continue to pursue all avenues to encourage specific workers to apply for the security clearance required for their positions. Terminal operators will also be able to institute special interim security arrangements.

Accordingly, there will be no operational disruption of container or cruise terminal business on December 15, 2007 in the Port of Vancouver or Fraser River.

The exemption order will allow time for the CIRB to prepare a decision.

The VPA will post further updates to this web page as information becomes available.

Marine Transportation Security Regulations Update
-- posted November 27
Effective December 15, 2007, security clearances will be required by workers accessing certain restricted areas within container and cruise facilities in the Port of Vancouver and the Fraser River.

ILWU in these jurisdictions have refused to complete security applications on constitutional grounds.

In response, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) has made an application to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) for a declaration that the refusal by these locals, which represent more than 5,000 workers at the Port of Vancouver, amounts to an illegal strike. The parties are currently waiting for a decision from the CIRB.

The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) is working closely with Transport Canada and container terminal operators to determine what increased security measures need to be implemented to maintain operations. We remain optimistic of finding a workable solution and customers are advised that the port intends to maintain operations while the CIRB completes its decision.

The VPA will post further updates to this Web page as information becomes available.