BMWE Canada to merge with Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (5/12/2004)

5/12/2022

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) soon will absorb another rail-labor union. On May 10, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes' (BMWE) Canadian arm approved a merger with the conference, effective yesterday.

Earlier this year, a majority of BMWE-represented MOW workers at Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways chose to be represented by TCRC. However, the Canada Industrial Relations Board is delaying formal certification of TCRC as the workers' representative.

"The [board's] delay is harmful to the interest of Canadian maintenance-of-way employees, whose collective bargaining process has been stalled," said BMWE officials in a prepared statement.

In September, BMWE officials began holding merger discussions with Teamsters representatives. Last month, the union's Canadian legislative directors approved the merger by a six-to-one vote. BMWE members would be represented by a TCRC Maintenance of Way Division.

"Today, we are honoring the wishes of the maintenance-of-way employees of Canada," said BMWE Acting President Freddie Simpson.

In December, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers — now the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen — merged with the TCRC in Canada and the Teamsters Rail Conference in the United States.

Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News