Bulletin
Possible Strike Action – Protrans BC – Respecting Picket Lines
To: All MoveUP members at CMBC & TransLink
At MoveUP, we take pride in supporting fellow unions in their struggles with their employers during their collective bargaining process. And when we share the workplace with a striking union, their fight often benefits our members directly. Job action is a last resort and, while we don’t like to be on the picket line, sometimes we need to show the employer how valuable the workers are.
The BCGEU at Protrans, the operators of the Canada Line, served their employer with 72 hours strike notice which could result in strike action as soon as 4 p.m. tomorrow, Monday, February 1.
MoveUP at this juncture is not aware what specific job action the BCGEU is planning. Members are asked to be prepared to encounter and to respect BCGEU pickets along the Canada Line.
Here are some helpful facts should we need to support our brothers and sisters of another union on a picket line;
How Do I Tell If It’s a Picket Line?
Should you arrive for work and see people wearing picket signs, it’s a picket line. Please do not seek any backdoor access to your workplace, or you will be considered to have crossed the picket line. Please search for a job steward or other MoveUP members to receive your instructions or call the MoveUP office. MoveUP will keep members advised when we learn of specific job action plans and mobilize stewards when strike action directly impacts our workplaces.
Do Not Cross
When we stand with our brothers and sisters at other unions by refusing to cross their picket line, we put necessary pressure on their employer. You are asked to stand with your brothers and sisters on their line with the confidence that MoveUP is already protecting you from any possible discipline from your employer.
What Happens If I Cross?
Do not cross a picket line. Members of the other union will be very passionate regarding their issues and job action. While crossing a picket line, you could be confronted by coworkers who will see your action as threatening their fight for fair wages, job security, workplace safety, respect, and other common strike issues. They will feel betrayed by your action and those feelings will have a lasting impact. You will be undermining their efforts to improve their working conditions and you will be undermining the solidarity we will depend on in the future to improve our working conditions.
The MoveUP Constitution (section 16.1) also allows for a member to bring a charge against another member for crossing a picket line (ours or another union’s) within six months of the witnessed crossing. After the charge is fully investigated via the process laid out in the constitution, the member may be subject to union discipline (section 16.4).
Will I Lose Pay or Benefits?
In the case of a strike on the Canada Line, members are expected to find alternate ways to report to work. We expect very few, if any, members will find their worksite behind a picket line. If you cannot enter your workplace because of a picket line, it’s as if you are on strike with MoveUP. Should that occur, our local as well as your national union, COPE/SEPB, may access our defense funds in place to ensure any job action taken will impact our members as little as possible.
In the event that job action at Canada Line Skytrain becomes disruptive to our members at Translink or CMBC, we respond will further communication. Please stay tuned for further information.
Please also feel free to contact your job steward, union representative or myself with any other questions, and let your brothers and sisters know that you will support their job action.
In Solidarity,
Parm Sandhar, Union Representative
Christy Slusarenko, Vice President of Combined Units