CN Rail workers reach tentative deal

MONTREAL, (Jan. 23, 2004) — An impending strike by over 5,000 Canadian National Railway employees, including intermodal yard workers, has been averted as their union and the railway announced they’ve reached tentative agreements.

CN Rail and the Canadian Auto Workers union — representing three locals that include CN’s shopcraft, clerical, and intermodal yard employees — agreed on the deal in the early hours Friday morning. The original strike deadline was set for Thursday at midnight, but yesterday the union agreed to extend the deadline until today, hoping a deal could be reached.

The agreement — financial details of which were not disclosed until it can be ratified by union members– will be retroactive to Jan. 1. The union previously indicated wages, pensions, and shift work were the key issues in the contract negotiations.

The workers entered into a legal strike position when their previous three-year contract expired on Dec. 31, 2003. CN remains in talks with six other unions — representing another 8,500 employees — whose contracts also expired at the end of last year.

CN Rail spokesperson Mark Hallman told Today’s Trucking late yesterday afternoon he was confident last night’s continued negotiations would lead to a settlement. He did add however, that CN’s contingency plans would ensure freight and commuter operations would not be severely affected by a strike.

— From Canadian Press