On May 29th, while peacefully walking a legal picket line on public property, six (6) of our members were arrested (for alleged 'mischief'), handcuffed, hauled onto CP property, forcibly detained, searched, humiliated and then taken
in handcuffs to a police station for processing. One of these members, Charnjit Gill, was violently assaulted. All had their charter and constitutional rights violated. The day after this reprehensible incident, a judge quashed the "Notice to Appear" citing it as "oppresive". These members were arrested while picketting CPRail, by CP Rail's own private police force.
This occurred at the Oxford Entrance to CPR's Coquitlam yard in British Columbia. Nowhere else during the strike was there such a display of violence and intimidation. And this display was not from the TCRC MWED members, who were simply exercising their right to free assembly and their right to picket. It was the police who exhibited all the violence in this incident. The CP Police. Employees of the company that was being struck.
Everyone that I have spoken with who has viewed the video footage, found it both shocking and appalling. NDP Members of Parliament Libby Davies and Peter Julian are no exception. Ms. Davies is the NDP Federal Labour critic and Mr. Julian is the NDP Federal Transport critic. They found this incident so disturbing that they have written to Prime Minister Harper requesting that the federal government investigate and deal with this matter. They want answers.
But to go even further, both wanted to meet the six (6) members themselves and offer their assurances that this incident is not forgotten. And to publicly give their support to Teamster Canada President Bob Bouvier's demand for a public inquiry. They invited myself and potential NDP MP for Vancouver/ Kingsway Don Davies (who is also a proud Teamster) to join them at the Carnegie Centre in Vancouver where they wanted to speak directly with our members, the media and other interested parties.
Libby Davies, is a long time advocate of Canadian workers rights and freedoms. Yesterday, she sincerely spoke of the gravity of this situation and the necessity of insuring that it never happens again. Peter Julian echoed her sentiments and re iterated that he would personally stay involved until answers were forthcoming. He eloquently talked of the importance of free expression and the need to protect that right.
Don Davies firmly added that the right to strike was just that... a right. Not a privilege, a right. And a right that we must exercise when necessary without fear of reprisal from anyone but more importantly, from some company's private police force.
Charnie Gill spoke on how the assault itself has affected him and Joginder Gill spoke of the humiliation of being handcuffed while he was searched and stripped of religious symbols. Their comments left everyone visibly affected.
Many questions were raised by the media and others, including the jurisdictional rights of these CP Police to act on incidences that did not occur on CP property. The question was raised of "conflict of interest", an employer's private securing force using its constabulary powers to assist said employer in eliminating legal picket lines. The question of whether or not a parliamentary review of the legislation allowing this private police force is needed was also brought forward. Some of the questions could not be readily answered in this forum, but the MP's heard them, and I'm sure will follow up.
Another question which has been haunting a lot of us since this incident occurred was also brought up. The question of whether or not this had been racially motivated was raised from the audience. It should be noted that 5 of the 6 arrested were of East Indian descent and of the Sikh faith.
I cannot speak on what was in the hearts and minds of these CP Police officers. I do not know why the officer violently assaulted Charnjit Gill when he offered no resistance. Any opinion I could offer would be just that... an opinion.
However there are some facts, which in my opinion, beg the aforementioned question to be asked..
It is a fact that the CP Police attended many of the picket lines across the country.
It is a fact that there were other TCRC MWED members who were served with arrest notices by CP Police for alleged "mischief" (the same thing the "Oxford 6" were arrested for) involving picket line activities.
It is a fact that Oxford was the only location where our members were handcuffed (even though they offered no resistance) and taken onto CP property, detained and searched and then transported in handcuffs to be processed. It is also the only location where a TCRC MWED member was assaulted.
I do know that it is a fact the every other member across the country who was arrested for alleged 'mischief' by the CP Police was NOT handcuffed. They were served with a "notice to appear" at the site. They were not taken into custody, transported to a police station or detained or searched.
But then it is a fact that the only Sikh (or any other visible minority) members arrested for alleged "mischief" or anything else during the strike by CP Police, were at Oxford.
If the Federal Government will initiate a public inquiry into the matter, more facts will hopefully come out and be made public. But more importantly, perhaps solutions will as well. And with the facts and with the remedies, we will possibly see Justice.
I want to offer our gratitude to Ms. Davies, Mr. Julian and Don Davies. Thank you on behalf of us Teamsters, but also thank you on behalf of labour and all free Canadians. We elect you to protect us and to protect our rights and its good to see that you are fulfilling your mandate.
Stay safe, Stay strong, Stay United.
Bill Brehl
President
TCRC MWED
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For more information:
Don Davies - 604-874-9906
dondavies@ndp.ca
