The Telecommunications Workers Union is very disappointed with the recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of TWU Local 202 vs. Wayne MacMillan et al. The Court decided to dismiss the case with costs.

"The TWU will continue to proudly fight for workers'’ rights," said John Carpenter, National Vice President of the TWU. "All of our brothers and sisters need to support each other, especially during tough and demanding times. We will get through this."

TWU Local 202 had levied fines against members who crossed the Unions’ picket lines in 2005 and filed claims at the Lethbridge Small Claims court. The Court ruled it did not have jurisdiction to enforce the collection on fines levied against those members. TWU Local 202 appealed the decision to the Alberta Provincial Court where Judge LeGrandeur ruled the union could not use the Small Claims Court to collect the penalties. An appeal was made to the Court of Queens bench who agreed the Provincial Court has no jurisdiction to collect fines imposed by the Local. The TWU supported Local 202 in appealing directly to the Supreme Court of Canada and an application for Leave to Appeal was filed in December 2008.

Mr. Carpenter continued, "It is time to turn the page and work together to build solidarity through communication, education and our Membership Outreach program. We share a common purpose and in order to be successful in bargaining in 2010, it is important that we focus our efforts on engaging our membership and building relationships with our brothers and sisters across the country."