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LETTER: Workers not impeded

To the editor: The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 81 is the bargaining unit of office and support staff at Bombardier Transportation Inc. in Thunder Bay.
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Striking Bombardier workers march along their picket line in this July 25 tbnewswatch.com file photograph. (tbnewswatch.com file photograph)

To the editor:

The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 81 is the bargaining unit of office and support staff at Bombardier Transportation Inc. in Thunder Bay.

Our work involves supporting both Bombardier management and Unifor workers. Our Sisters and Brothers in Unifor have exercised their legal right to strike. At 2 p.m. on Monday, July 14, Unifor workers legally walked out. When the COPE workday ended at 4:30pm, our members were met with camaraderie from the Unifor picket line. 

For the first few days of the strike, there were delays entering and exiting the premises. It is our understanding that Unifor is exercising their legal right to engage people crossing the picket line. Shortly after, Unifor began identifying COPE members waiting to enter and exit the premises and expedited their crossing.

To our knowledge, Unifor picketers have not intimidated or threatened any COPE members when entering or exiting work. The picketers have been humble and respectful. We have received no complaints thus far. Our members have been welcomed on the picket line by the Unifor bargaining unit.

We hope that Unifor and Bombardier come to an equitable agreement so prosperity can flourish for both the employees and the company.

We look forward to seeing our sisters and brothers back to work soon. Workers at the Thunder Bay plant deliver high quality industry-leading transportation products and look forward to the future as we endeavour to strengthen our relationships between the Unions, the company, and our valued customers.

 

Dan Muzzin,
Bargaining committee, C.O.P.E. Local 81





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