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A vast majority of United Transportation Union (UTU)-represented workers at Canadian Pacific Railway's Soo Line subsidiary recently ratified a four-year agreement, which is retroactive to July 2005.

The contract — which increases wages, and improves working rules and conditions — covers conductors, brakemen, switchmen, firemen and hostlers.

The pact "largely mirrors" national agreements recently ratified by UTU members employed at BNSF Railway Co., CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern Corp., Union Pacific Railroad and numerous small railroads, the UTU said. One difference: The CPR/Soo Line agreement calls for entry rates to reach 100 percent wage parity within three years, the union said.