FEDERAL LABOUR MINISTER ASKS VIA RAIL AND TEAMSTERS TO SETTLE DISPUTE WITHOUT A WORK STOPPAGE

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December 22, 2005
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05-101

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The Minister of Labour and Housing today asked representatives of Via Rail Canada Inc. and Teamster Canada Rail Conference to settle their collective bargaining differences without resorting to a disruptive work stoppage during the holiday travel season.

In order to assist the two parties, the Minister has asked Ms. Elizabeth MacPherson, the Director General of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, to join the negotiations and report back to him.

The union gave notice today that it plans to take strike action on December 24, 2005, if the parties are unable to reach a settlement before then. A federal mediator has been meeting with the bargaining committees since December 18 in an attempt to finalize an agreement. The collective agreement between the parties covering approximately 350 engineers and conductors expired on December 1, 2000.

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For further information:

Media Inquiries
Peter Graham, Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Labour and Housing
(819) 953-5646