diff --git a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.local/src/org/eclipse/rse/services/local/files/LocalFileService.java b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.local/src/org/eclipse/rse/services/local/files/LocalFileService.java
index 85cbe1adbc4..6525b9966d2 100644
--- a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.local/src/org/eclipse/rse/services/local/files/LocalFileService.java
+++ b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.local/src/org/eclipse/rse/services/local/files/LocalFileService.java
@@ -1107,11 +1107,11 @@ public class LocalFileService extends AbstractFileService implements IFileServic
 			
 			if (folderCopy)
 			{
-				command = "cp  -r " + src + " " + target; //$NON-NLS-1$ //$NON-NLS-2$
+				command = "cp  -Rp " + src + " " + target; //$NON-NLS-1$ //$NON-NLS-2$
 			}
 			else // it is a file 	 
 			{
-				command = "cp " + src + " " + target; //$NON-NLS-1$ //$NON-NLS-2$
+				command = "cp -p " + src + " " + target; //$NON-NLS-1$ //$NON-NLS-2$
 			}
 		}
 		int rc = -1;