CPKC, BLET approve tentative labor pact

Canadian Pacific Kansas City yesterday announced it has reached a new tentative five-year collective agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET).

The tentative agreement providing increased wages and more flexible work rules covers 300 locomotive engineers on the Soo Line property operating trains in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin, CPKC officials said in a press release.

"We are very pleased to have reached this latest tentative collective agreement benefiting approximately 300 of our railroaders in the United States," said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel. "With this agreement and 13 others reached at the bargaining table with our unions across the United States in recent days, CPKC will continue to safely and efficiently deliver for our customers for years to come in support of American business and economic growth."

Last week, CPKC announced a series of 13 tentative five-year collective agreements with various unions representing 360 employees across the United States. All the tentative agreements announced this month are pending ratification by the unions' membership.