Railroaders place to shoot the shit.

UTU Throws in Towel Sunday, 25 February 2007 Staff Editorial
The UTU's handpicked negotiating team concluded a "deal" with CN Rail late yesterday afternoon, and have presented it to the rank and file with a recommendation that members return to work while considering it's ratification. The ratification process is to be completed in thirty days, with ballots returned by March 26, 2007.
The negotiators included a carefully worded cover letter explaining that "[they] were successful in achieving the removal of all the company's contract demands for this round of collective bargaining." Their wish is for members to lay down the pickets and return to work as a means of preventing back to work legislation introduced in Parliament on Friday. The federal Tory Government and Opposition Liberals have agreed to speed the process of the Commons to have the Bill passed early next week.
The deal contains a three percent increase in pay for 2007, and a $1000 signing bonus for all employees who were active when the strike began, and covered by a UTU contract since the beginning of the year (I'm sure this proviso was not lost on the new hires and the ESE's who were magically set up on February 9, 2007). The settlement contains the standard benefit improvements and little, sorry, nothing else. 
They were successful? Yes, you read it correctly. You can be sure the UTU International was quick to pat them on the back. "Job well done, boys, we sure showed those upstart General Chairs."  It took them five days of "difficult negotiations" to arrive at the point where our elected representatives told them to "pound salt." Time and circumstance appeared to get in the way of serious negotiations. So we'll not even pretend that we tried, and stuff the inadequate and insulting message of E-dot in your face.
The UTU International has failed its' Canadian Membership in remarkable fashion over the last three weeks. First they attempt to cripple the negotiating team with a ludicrous claim of authority over our negotiations. Then they attempt to instill fear in the minds of members with the outrageous statements of Frank Wilnar - an unelected mouthpiece. Unsuccessful in these efforts, they side with the carrier to challenge the legality of the strike, only to fail again. Thompson then abuses the power of office to remove the duly elected chairs from negotiations (and membership), installing a trio of hacks to protect the situation. Finally, the gong show produces a booby prize that we have already discarded.
There can be only one answer for why things progressed as they did - that being the International long ago realized that they were not going to dictate the direction that members were going, and unable to stop a move to another union, they chose to cripple the membership instead. Should there have been any out there who believe the International was worth preserving, this pathetic attempt at representation should convince you that they hung you out to dry.
What to do? You will follow in the forums that there are two main themes out there.
1. Return to work ... avoid legislation ... attempt to re-certify bargaining units ... reject offer ... try again.2. Remain on the line ... force legislation ... accept the arbitrated settlement ... re-certify bargaining agents ... try again
Of Course there are many variations and just as many opinions on the outcome. Our sense is that this deal and the arbitrated deal will be one and the same. Final Offer selection does not really lend itself to outcomes which stray from the status quo, unless extraordinary circumstances allow an employer to convince an arbitrator of the need to change business models - not impossible, but unlikely from a corporation making the profits that CN is reporting.
The answers, of course, lie in you. Can you find this deal acceptable, while you attempt to reorganize? Our guess is that you can, but should you? Throughout the process you have been consistent in telling E-dot and his buddy, Thompson, to SHOVE IT. Perhaps that message is still necessary. 
SHAME! Shame on Paul Thompson. Shame on John Armstrong and Bob Sharpe. Shame on Tim Secord. You have all acted in an embarrassing and disgraceful manner, and fully deserve the fate that awaits you.