[LabComm] APPLICATION FILED TO REPRESENT CN TRACK WORKERS

[Van Horne, Pat]

12 DECEMBER 2003                    

UNITED STEELWORKERS 
APPLY TO REPRESENT CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY 
COMPANY (CN) TRACK WORKERS

	TORONTO - United Steelworkers National Director Lawrence McBrearty
announced Friday that, following a card-signing campaign, the union has
filed an application for certification with the Canada Industrial Relations
Board (CIRB) on behalf of about 3,000 employees of the Canadian National
Railway Company (CN).
The employees maintain and repair CN's track system across Canada.  It is
now up to the CIRB to determine whether a representation vote will be held.
"We feel confident that the CIRB will uphold the choice of the majority of
the CN workers who signed Steelworker union cards," McBrearty said, adding
that the United Steelworkers already represents CN employees who work as
rail traffic controllers.  
McBrearty said the union expects to file an application soon to also
represent track workers at Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). At CP, about 1,500
Steelworker members are crew dispatchers, operators of intermodal terminals,
storespersons, accounting centre staff and freight claims adjusters. 
"We are already a significant player in the transportation sector," said
McBrearty. "In the late '90s, our union merged with the 5,000-member, former
Canadian section of the Transportation Communications Union.  We look
forward to welcoming the 3,000 CN workers into our union."
The United Steelworkers represents about 180,000 men and women working in
every sector of Canada's economy.
CN's rail links span the continent.
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CONTACT:           Lawrence McBrearty    416/487-1571; 416/575-2486

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