Unifor members approve four agreements with CN

CN and the Unifor union announced yesterday that union members have ratified the clerical/intermodal, Savage Alberta Railway, excavator-operator and CNTL owner-operator collective agreements. The Class I is awaiting results from the mechanical bargaining unit represented by Unifor Local 100R.

Unifor represents 4,800 employees in four units at CN: clerical/intermodal, mechanic, CNTL truck owner-operators and excavator-operators. The clerical/intermodal, CNTL and excavator-operators contracts have a 51-month term, according to a CN press release.

"The deals were amicably negotiated and are good for CN and its employees," said Jim Vena, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The total number of CN agreements now ratified by Unifor members is five. Voting took place at membership meetings over the past two weeks, Unifor officials said in a press release.

The agreements include wage increases in each of the four years, improvements to benefits, stronger job security, better rates for CNTL truck drivers, stronger apprenticeship ratios, the re-establishment of a joint health and safety committee, and provisions that will see the in-sourcing of work and new jobs created, union officials said.

Unifor and CN also will partner to create a fund that will focus on initiatives related to women's equality and aboriginal issues, they added.

"Year over year, CN is a tremendously profitable company," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. "With this set of negotiations, it was important for us to make gains for our members on every front, recognizing their efforts in CN's success."