Canadian National, Union Reach Tentative Labor Agreement
Canadian National Railway and the Unifor union said they have negotiated a tentative labor agreement, averting a lockout of 4,800 workers.
Details of the agreement were withheld, pending a ratification vote by Unifor members.
Unifor said it will schedule ratification meetings across Canada over the next three weeks.
“This settlement forecloses the prospect of a potential labor disruption that would have harmed CN's employees, its customers and the Canadian economy,” Canadian National CEO Claude Mongeau said in a Feb. 23 statement.
“We’re pleased that we were able to reach a negotiated agreement and avoid a major national lockout of our members,” Unifor President Jerry Dias said.
The agreement has the unanimous endorsement of all Unifor bargaining committees, he said.
Unifor represents 4,800 Canadian National employees, including clerical, intermodal and mechanical workers, truck owner-operators and excavator operators.
Separately, Canadian National announced a new, four-year collective agreement with about 180 Teamsters-represented rail traffic controllers in Canada.
