CN Rail-BLE contract negotiations begin

Safety, quality of life issues top BLE agenda

OTTAWA, Jan. 27 -- BLE members expect a "return on our investments" in the most recent round of national negotiations with Canadian National Railway, BLE Canadian Director Gilles Hallé announced.

Brother Hallé chaired the negotiations with CN Rail from January 15 to 23, and said both sides have had ample opportunity discuss the demands that were served before the current contract expired on Dec. 31, 1997.

"Major compromises were made with CN in order for it to increase revenues and improve its operating ratio," Brother Hallé said. "The profitability of CN is now unquestionable and it is now time for union members to get a return on our investments."

The BLE is negotiating jointly with the United Transportation Union as part of the Canadian Council of Railway Operation Unions.

"We will not make any commitment that will reduce the safety or the quality of life of our members," Hallé said.

The negotiations will resume on February 9 in Montreal.

La securite et la qualite de vie sont les items prioritaries a l'agenda de la Fraternite

OTTAWA, le 27 janv. -- Les membres de la Fraternite s'attendent a un "retour rentable de nos investissements" lors des toutes dernieres negociations nationales avec les Lignes canadiennes de la Compagnie de chemins de fer du Canada, a declare le directeur canadien de la Fraternite, M. Gilles Hallé.

Confrere Hallé preside les negociations avec CN du 15 janvier au 23 janvier 1998, et a affirme que les deux parties ont eu l'opportunite de discuter les demandes qui ont ete presente avant la fin du contrat qui a expire le 31 decembre 1997.

"Des compomis majeurs ont ete faits avec NC dans le but d'augmenter les revenus et d'ameliorer le ratio d'operation" a declare Confrere Hallé. "Les profits de CN sont indiscutables et il est maintenant temps pour les membres du syndicat d'obtenir le retour de nos investissements."

La Fraternite negocie presentement, conjointement avec les Travailleurs Unis des Transports, en tant que "Conseil candien des syndicats operationnels de chemins de fer."

"Nous ne ferons aucune etente qui pourrait compromettre la securite ou la qualite de vie de nos membres," a did M. Hallé.

Les negociations repredront le 9 fevrier a Montreal.