Rocky Mountaineer locks out employees
Rocky Mountaineer, the luxury rail tour company that operates in B.C. and Alberta, has locked out its on-board service staff and replaced them with senior staff and temporary workers.
It’s a move union representative Rod Blackburn calls "distasteful," referring to replacement workers as "scabs."
"Scabbing cuts at the very heart of Canadian society," he said. "It’s patently wrong and it helps no one."
But while B.C. labour laws prohibit companies from replacing striking workers with "scab labour," Rocky Mountaineer operates nationally and is governed by the Canada Labour Code, said Blackburn.
"I’ve certainly heard that word on the picket line," company spokesperson Ian Robertson said of the phrase "scab labour."
"But we are a federally operated company and have every legal right to hire temporary workers," said Robertson.
"I think that the end of the day neither party wishes this was going on. Its unfortunate, but we continue to find ways to resolve the situation," he added, noting the company continues to operate normally with no disruptions in its service.
Rocky Mountaineer, established in 1990 and owned by Armstrong Group Ltd., a private company, employs around 300 workers during it’s peak summer season, said Robertson.
Peter Armstrong, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Armstrong Group and founder of Rocky Mountaineer, has deep roots in civic, provincial and federal politics. Vancouver’s NPA civic party named him chairman in May. He serves as a director of PPP Canada, a federal crown corporation that operates at the intersection of public and private infrastructure projects, and currently sits as chair of the Vancouver Police Foundation.
Armstrong took over the Rocky Mountaineer service in 1989, buying the operation from Via Rail, according to the company website.
Like Armstrong, several Rocky Mountaineer board members have political pasts. Jim Dinning, former Alberta provincial treasurer, Jim Gouk, former federal transport critic with the Reform Party, and former mayor of Calgary Al Duerr, are among them.
A first class trip from Vancouver to Calgary on the luxury train ride goes for around $1,800 and has been called, according to the company website, "one of the world's greatest trips," by National Geographic.
The locked out employees, about 130 of them, are members of the Teamsters Local 31 union. On June 15 they filed a strike notice and were subsequently locked out on June 22, according to an open letter published on a blog and physically handed to departing passengers.
"Unfortunately, we have been unable to negotiate what we deem to be a fair contract and have been subsequently locked out of our jobs," reads the letter.
"Quite simply, what we were asking for was very reasonable. It is customary to be paid overtime after 8 hours in Canada. However, recognizing that our long days last anywhere from 12 - 16 hours, we asked for overtime after 11 hours; we were willing to take a zero per cent wage increase in order to accommodate this."
Blackburn confirmed the demands.
"They get no overtime whatsoever until they get to 320 hours in 8 weeks,"he said.
"There's a clause in the labour code that states if the union and management come to an agreement they can set variable hours," he said, noting that was before his time and now needs to be reassessed.
"On the table right now, we are just talking at this point about overtime and wages. They wanted to give these people ten cents an hour raise. That's really low ball."
- 1
- |
- 2
- |
- 3
- next ›
- last page »
More in News
(73) Comments
Due to threats of legal action from the company, the facebook page and blog have been renamed and moved just a few minutes ago.
Please show your support by "Liking" the new facebook page!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rocky-Mountain-Train-Lockout/126848414067595?sk=info
Blog: http://rockymountaintrainlockout.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the thoughtful well-researched article. I do want to see the onboard attendants back to work and properly compensated.
How can companies continue to try and lower the bar on wages for employees, while expecting us to survive in Canada?
Pitting employees against each other to drop the bottom out from under them as well is terrible. Put the on-board attendants back on the trains and work out a fair contract with them. The scabs should be offered a position within the unionized group. Obviously with less seniority.
It's not serving anybody's interests to let this continue Rocky Mountain. Find a way to make peace and regain your face.
I have taken both the Red Leaf Service to Calgary in 2003 and the Whistler Mountaineer a couple of years ago.
I think that the company's unethical behaviour in locking out their excellent employees and using "scab labour" to keep the trains running has and will continue to damage their reputation for excellent service.
I am spreading the word to everyone I know and yes, I too have friends in both Australia and the U.K.
BOYCOTT ROCKY MOUNTAINEER until they return to the table and negotiate fairly with their employees.
This is atrocious what the company is doing. Apparently (according to them) they didn't budget accordingly even when they knew negotiations were up this year. Furthermore, the loyal staff didn't even fight for a pay increase 3 years ago to help the company out after the economy crashed in 2008. Yet, the company has launched a new line to Seattle for next year, rebranded the train cars and given themselves big paycheques. They are only trying to dismantle a union and are not even attempting to negotiate properly as per BC Law. After years of loyalty from the employees, who haven't received appropriate overtime, raises, medical and pension, who return to seasonal employment year after year, this is what the company does? Disgusting.
I am a locked out Onboard Attendant and I was very thankful to hear that someone was raising awareness. Thank you Linda for helping us in our fight. You touched my heart.
All we want is fair treatment and respect. I am hoping that RMV will open their eyes and see our value. I am not #86. I am an amazing Onboard who loves her job.
I am also one of the locked out onboard attendants and as well, I am very thankful for Linda Solomon's article and all of the support that we have had, not only from other unions, but also from our guests. I wish we could be travelling with you and sharing the knowledge and passion that we have for the areas that we travel through with you. I think I can say that many of the onboard attendants feel the same way as I do when I say-we love our jobs and we miss our guests. I hope that we can settle on a fair contract soon so we can see you on the rails and provide you with the hospitality that we'd became renowned for!!
It saddens me to learn that this type of labor practice still exists in the world. The actions of Rocky Mountaineer may be legal but they are certainly not ethical. As I learn more about the situation I know that my decision to rethink my travel onboard the train during this overseas trip was a good one. It is simply absurd that the company will not reinstate these workers and negotiate with them while they continue to work, absolute tyranny. I can not believe that this is good for company moral or that this company was ever one of Canada's top 50 employers. Good work getting the message out, Vancouver Observer.
Passion, Integrity, Excellence. This is the motto that helped to build this company and has become a part of who I am over the last twelve years that I have worked onboard the train. I only hope that the company will have these words in their heart when they return to the bargaining table, as I have them in mine. Thank you to everyone who has supported us in getting the word out.
It's amazing to see how much money Rocky is spending to lock out its employees: security, hiring scabs, training scabs, extra scabs in each train car.
It said it had no money... strange.
Attendants would like two issues in particular addressed: schedule and overtime. The schedule is manipulated so overtime is earned only by a few. This despite employees working fourty-five to fifty-five hours in four days.
Nor would Rocky allow the Union to pay employees' Medical Services Premium.
What purpose does that serve? Why do they want to hurt its employees?
I am a former OBA, having worked my last shift in 2003. It was a job that I truly loved, leaving reluctantly to pursue my education in economics. I still have many friends, both in management and amongst the OBAs, who work on the train. My experience is that all this people work with passion and dignity.
I must disclose that I had an offer to return to work on the train extended and retracted within a week. I was given the explanation that they didn’t need me after all. Two weeks later they hired an additional manager. So I do have a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth.
That said, I can confirm that this is a HARD job. These OBAs give of themselves for shifts of at least 11 hours. Most shifts are 13-17 hours in length. The OBAs are so committed to "spectacular" guest service they go above and beyond in the face of long, gruelling work. Guests coming off the train feeling that the extra they paid to ride the rails, as opposed to a bus tour or driving themselves, has indeed made it a trip of a lifetime thanks to these hard working OBAs. When there are delays, without question OBAs don’t worry about when their day will end, they instead fret and worry about how they can still make the experience an unforgettable one for the guests.
They don't complain about having to work extra time. They have at times been caught on the train upwards of 20 hours, then been asked with less than 8 hours of break to get up and do it again, all with a smile. A legal grey area, the company asks them to do it and they do because they are there for the guests.
It isn't a question of whether or not they "deserve" this pay. The added value of this trip, that has allowed the company to expand, has resulted in it being named one of the 100 things to do before you die, and has made the owner rich, comes in great part from the commitment of these people. They ARE the extra value of this trip, they ARE the difference between the company being able to charge the same price as a bus tour versus taking the train. Ask anyone who has ever taken the train....do they regret having paid the extra cost? Most likely they will tell you that it was a bargain.
So now they company won't let them work. These folks are asking for a wage that lets them be able to afford things like rent and food. I can tell you, no one is getting rich as an onboard attendant! Do they get time off in the winter? Yes. In a matter of speaking they get "paid" with this time.
But now, they are asking to be paid for their actual time. Anyone who has ever had to work an extra long day knows how tough it can be. These guys do that every day. When the company needed them to take a pay freeze (the equivalent of a pay cut when you consider inflation) they did. Now, the company won't even talk to them about the same sort of compensation that the vast majority of the world receives when they go above and beyond the confinse of a normal 8 hour work day.
While I perhaps have my axe to grind, I feel that these guys are being screwed over by an organization with questionable ethical practice in regards to how it rewards its employees. Those scabs on the train, remember this is what they did to the people whom have built the company. They won't hesistate to do the same to you.
I was okay with the company locking them out as a part of regular negotiations. It is the chance you take when you vote to strike. But subsequent actions by the company, such as initially claiming they were "forced" to lock out employees, that despite the fact they had locked them out that it was employees who had "taken job action" and now not even wanting to talk with them, are in my mind lacking integrity. I can not help but speak up for my friends as OBAs and feel sorry for those in management whom recognize the work that the OBAs do and what as the company treats them as though they are disposable.
`
I (also) am one of the aforementioned locked out attendants who wishes to thank Linda Soloman for her article and express my shock and disgust at the actions and reactions of the company that I have worked for for nearly 7 years.The attitude of the day here in Canada seems to be tilting towards an extreme version of 'Reaganomics': a warped anti-labour sentiment that is pervasive not only in the media, but (alarmingly and increasingly) also within the law. One needs only to look at recent back-to-work legislation as well as the spike in temporary work permits issued to foreign (unprotected) workers in the name of "economic recovery" as evidence.
I only hope that the disappearing middle class who are grasping at their waning rights have the courage and fortitude to perservere and stay united in this 4+ year uphill battle that has only just begun.
It truly saddens me to see a company that used to pride itself on being a top employer, now turn into a shadow of its former self. I not only question the company's comittment to its employees but now its guests as they are subject to the services of a poorly trained inexperienced crew. Training for this position is usually a 4-6 week process, however the scab labour had a weekend to learn our jobs, and the company even had the audacity to have us train our replacements. Isn't locking us out bad enough, now they are playing psychological warfare on us. What kind of an employer does this? We have achieved a 98% guest satisfaction rate year after year, I wonder how the new team will fare. During this hard time the only thing I can recommend is to STAY FAR AWAY from booking ANY trips onboard the train until this situation is resolved aimicably. Taking a trip on board this train means you support unethical labour practices so please make sure you make the right decision with your vactation. Thank you for supporting us, the locked out On board Attendants.
I appreciate the coverage on this story. I am an on-board attendant who loves my job and would like to return to work and continue providing fantastic service...but I would also like to return with a fair contract that recognizes the hard work and long hours that are put in to make this train journey what it is and has been recognized for by the World Travel Awards - “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train”.
Thank you for your coverage Linda, may it help enlighten everyone on our situation and encourage the company to return to the table and get this situation resolved!
Hi! I am a locked out attendant and I am hurt by what is happening. We were once working for a company that cared for its staff. Now it feels like we are working for a corporation that cares about expansion and money cost rather than honouring the people who helped make this company world renowned. I have dedicated the last 7 seasons to offering the very best of myself to every guest on board as well as my to my team members. We took a pay freeze last negotiation and this time we would like to be compensated for our long days. I just can't wrap my head around why the company feels it is unfair of us to want to be paid overtime for doing 50 hours in four days. These hours are spent on our feet, working non stop to exceed the expectations of our guests. I love my job yes but it is hard on the mind and body when expected to do two trips back to back. That is 90-100 hours in 8 days with potentially no overtime (it is calculated over 8 weeks!). Which brings us to the scheduling issue. Why are people sometimes scheduled three trips in a row?!?! That's 12 days straight of 10-16 hour days. We are not asking for a pay raise. Just to be treated a little more like people rather than robots. It saddens me to watch people get on the train and do the job I have loved and been proud of since the day I started. Than you to all the people who are showing their support. I sure hope this gets resolved.
I would just like to say "Why have you done this to your dedicated employees?"
Four weeks ago I had an accident while on the train and haven't worked since, nor had any money coming in.
During my 13 years with the company I have,as we all have, worked hard to achieve some goals and wants in life.. My first goal was my pride and joy my "Mini" I am sure you all know what this little car meant to me..She was my pride and joy.
Again thank you Rocky Mountaineer , due to your heartless action I've had to sell my car to support myself..
Well I hope your happy...What a great way to treat your seasoned staff..
Oh by the way I am still injured and can't do anything to earn money. No picketing , NOTHING.. And as it stand for the near future ..You my future is not looking good..
Again ..I would like to say "Thank you Rocky Mountaineer"
I am glad you appreciate all of our hard work and dedicated service over the last 20 years...
Hmmm ..What do I sell next???
As an OBA working his 14th season on the Train I don't have to tell you how much I love(d) my job. Today would have been my first day when i should be working on the train. This lockout is so sad! Yes it could be said that it's just business, but at some point in time for a company to put it'self so high is customer support and employee pride. to do this lockout, it simple hurts! I really hope the top managers will stop and think what they have done to 105 hard working people and stop this lockout.
I am also one of the On Board Attendants locked out by the company. I am very saddened by our situation and trully appreciate all the support we have been getting from our guests and the general public.
Thank you Linda Solomon for you article.
I hope and pray that the company will come back to the table and bargain in good faith.
I have been on the Rocky Mountaineer many times and I’ve always received amazing service, I can’t imagine how in-experienced “Scabs” could match the years of experience and hard work put in by the REAL on-board attendants.
George, age 13
As the very close friend of a Rocky Mountaineer on-board attendant, I have had the absolute pleasure of traveling onboard the train 7 times in the past 10 years. I have traveled Vancouver to Whistler, Vancouver to Banff, Vancouver to Calgary, Vancouver to Jasper, Kamloops to Jasper and back and finally last year, Whistler to Jasper. Every experience I have had on these trips has been spectacular because of the incredible beauty of British Columbia and the friendly professional on-board attendants that possess a very obvious passion for the jobs they are doing.
Sadly, for the past 10 days, I have been with these same on-board attendants standing on roadways outside of train stations. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard the phrase “I love my job” or We love our Guests” on these picket lines. The saddest of all I’ve heard was while watching guests disembark from the train, the guests gave their ‘replacement’ attendant a hug, an attendant standing near me uttered under her breath, “That’s my Hug.”
I find what the company is doing to their employees now both shocking and unbelievable. Shame Rocky Mountaineer.
I don't get it.
These people work only in the summer, because according to the website the train runs from May to October and they're complaining about overtime. Think about others who work hard 5-plus days a week for minimum wage year round and no tips. I have no sympathy...I'd love your job.
A company that prides itself on being BC grown should abide by the laws of this province. Tell me the last time scab labour has been used in this province or country (look it up, you may find a familiar name). You do not hear of it often because it is the lowest action a company can take against it's workers.
A company with no money to support it's workforce does not expand! Nor does it pay for expensive contingency plans.
The union offered to reimburse the company if it continued to pay the msp premiums for the locked out workers, they said that they were not interested in doing so.
The union asked for an extension to continue negotiations, this was denied and as such were manipulated into this lock-out.
It is clear that the company has set out to bust its union and displace its workers, but instead it has made them stronger and more full of fight, you may have broken their hearts, but you have not broken their spirits Rocky Mountaineer.
I am another Onboard Attendant, 7 years experience. The longer I worked on the train, the more I really loved my job and the people I worked with.
This has really been quite a horrific experience. Not only are we are locked out and the company is not negotiating with us, but there seems to have been quite a deliberate policy of cruelty to try to break us. It started out with putting replacement workers 'scabs' in coaches, forcing attendants to serve them so they would learn their jobs. Then after we were locked out the company refused to process MSP payments (essential basic medical) even though the Union would foot the actual bill. According to one of the Union leaders who has been dealing with labour disputes for 35 years, this is the first time he has ever heard of this happening. There can be no reason for this, apart from just to hurt us.
The company is required to bargain in good faith. There is clearly no intention of this, just stalling to try to hurt the employees. We used to be so proud to be part of a company we believed in, one of Canada's top 50 employers. It really has changed so much, and it is now run by a culture of bullying and intimidation.
I don't get it.
These people work only in the summer, because according to the website the train runs from May to October and they're complaining about overtime. Think about others who work hard 5-plus days a week for minimum wage year round and no tips. I have no sympathy...I'd love your job.
Locked out onboard attendants have it better than some, worse than others. Truth is - most people in the world would probably be very happy with the worst jobs in Canada. But that sort of "race to the bottom" thinking hurts working people everywhere. Collective bargaining is a democratic right that is worth protecting.
Thank you for covering this VO. This is an important issue at the heart of our Canadian identities: are workers being treated fairly? Are a few people getting rich from their political connections?
I want to know more about these political connections. What does this mean for the political parties connected (NPA, etc.)? Why did this company get privatized to begin with? Who is profiting from this and how much federal subsidy do they get? So much to learn about the Canadian system.
Just wanted to point out that all the Facebook likes and agrees and disagrees were wiped out by VO's software when I tweaked the headline on this story this afternoon. It's a glitch in our software we're trying to get worked out. For those of you who liked the story, sorry!
I find it absolutely unbelieveable that the practice of hiring 'replacement' workers ( Scab Labourers ) is allowed to take place anyhere within the country of Canada! It completely undermines the process and necessity of a company to find an agreeable contract with its workers.
If any company can just decide that they want to 'lock-out' their original unionized employees, and hire 'scab labourers' for less money, what is to stop the rest of big businesses in Canada from doing the same?
The Unions where established for a reason: to give the worker or working class, rights and fair treatment!
Therefore, I cannot believe that a democratic country like Canada allows this practice to continue!! I am shocked! It takes the power away from the Union and the working class, and gives it to people who obviously abuse it!
I am pleased and hopeful to find that this practice is ILLEGAL in British Columbia, but I would like to see it as illegal on a federal level as well. Any suggestions on how to make this happen??
Hello all,
First off, I thank everyone standing behind the Rocky Mntnr's locked out onboard attendants for understanding that this type of corporate actions hurt Canada. It enables big players of the tourism industry and gives the wrong example to every kind of industry in this country to treat the working man just a little worst every chance they get! In the long run, the repercussions of such actions will inevitably bring the rich to get richer and subsequently the middle class to get poorer.
Sitting in their luxurious offices, the leaders of these big canadian corporations, I assure you, dare not dream of making Canada a third world country (and we all know we are far from it) they also have families and friends who they love.(who they would not want to ever see in a lower tax bracket) But by making such moves on the business checkboard, they send a message of disrespect for the middle class who's hard work helps them fill their pockets and an absolute disinterest in our country's well being.
Rocky Mntnr is certainly not the worst employer. Although they use to (as i'm told) pride themselves on being family operated and believing in being good to their employees in order for them to treat their guests with amazing service, even after a 18 hour day with a genuine smile still stamped on their face. Knowingly that they ( the staff)did everything they could to make the guests journey most memorable and potentially (for a good number of these guests) the last trip they will ever take in their life. One can thrive on pleasing everyone and suffer from never dying passion for people but one cannot feed their family or pay their medical bill with smiles and hugs.
It appears that RM is no longer a family operated and caring employer.
I wish the best of luck to the onboard att. staff and would like to see more writings and follow up on this matter by VO.
I don't get it.
These people work only in the summer, because according to the website the train runs from May to October and they're complaining about overtime. Think about others who work hard 5-plus days a week for minimum wage year round and no tips. I have no sympathy...I'd love your job.
If you want a job why don't you go apply for it? Why do you want to go work for less? I am a postal worker and everyone wants to do my job for less too. I don't understand why you or anyone else would want to make 25% less than me, but now you can. If you want the job go apply and quit inferring other people are whiners when in fact it is you that is whining. They are standing their ground in a legitimate fight to improve the working conditions in Canada. They should be holding their heads high and you should be hanging yours in shame.