Your Bargaining Committee has been meeting face-to-face with the Company three days a week since January 11, 2011; additional days have been added when possible.

The parties are in agreement that the number of appendices will be reduced from the current eight appendices (four in Western Canada and four in Eastern Canada).  However, the final number of appendices has yet to be agreed upon.

Importantly, the agreement on structure allows the parties to move onto the resolution of specific proposals and how they will apply to each appendix. The Union and the Company have initialed a small number of agreements on specific articles.

All of this progress depends on an eventual agreement of a finalized complete package.  There are still numerous issues of significant importance to the membership that, as of yet, are unresolved.  Much work remains to be done.

We will continue to update you as bargaining progresses.