COMPETITION WATCH: Cascade Carriers O/Os vote to strike
SHERWOOD PARK, Alta. — Drivers for Cascade Carriers are poised to go on strike, after 92% of CAW Local 4050 members voted in favour of strike action, if necessary.
The union says Feb. 25 is the most likely date for its 56 owner/operators to walk off the job. The affected owner/operators deliver throughout Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan, delivering powered concrete, flyash, sand and other materials to customers in the cement and oilfield industries.
Cascade’s largest customers include: Lafarge, Rolling Mix, Inland Cement, BJ Services, Schlumberger, Trican, Sil Industrial, Trans Alta (Sundance), Badger Sand, Sand Source and, indirectly, Syncrude.
“These owner/operators are seeking a fair first collective agreement that provides for income stability, indemnification from rising fuel costs, recognition of their business costs, as well as fair and equitable treatment,” said CAW national tepresentative Todd Romanow. “They have helped Cascade Carriers become the success it is today and the company needs to provide a fair settlement that recognizes the monies unilaterally taken away from the owner/operators over the last four years prior to their joining the CAW, an action which has placed many of the owner/operators in a very poor financial position to keep working.”
Negotiations between the union and the carrier have been underway since July, 2010. The union claims little progress has been made towards a new collective agreement.
Have your say
This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.
Cheap parent company in Alberta ‘Mullen Trucking’ sees fit to profit share in 2010 with all their management and dispatchers, but forgets to fairly compensate any of their truckers. We got our first raise in over 8 years at Mill Creek, ( parent company is Mullen too ), a whopping 2 cents a mile but in Canada miles only. No increased benefits, no USA mileage increase, basically a big fat nothing. Mullen Trucking has 80 million outstanding shares on the TSE ( stock exchange ) and just announced in January 2011 a doubling of their yearly dividend from 50 cents a share to $1.00 per share ( thats $40 million extra dollars folks !! ) Mullen is making LOTSA extra money, but has NEVER properly compensated any of their truckers for the past 11 years. Good luck Crone Yard owner-operators ( Cascade ) in Calgary, I will make sure to drop into your yard in Calgary ( Ogdendale Drive ) and give you my support next week.