CN, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference reach tentative agreements

CN announced today that it reached tentative three-year agreements with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Conductors, Trainpersons and Yardpersons (TCRC-CTY).

By negotiating the pacts, which cover about 3,300 CN train conductors, trainpersons, yardpersons and traffic coordinators in Canada, the Class I avoided a potential strike.

The previous TCRC-CTY contracts expired on July 22, and the railroad and union for the past few months have sometimes held contentious negotiations in attempts to reach new agreements due to certain proposed work-rule concessions. Union leaders claimed the concessions would lead to members working longer hours and having less rest time between trips, but CN officials believed none of the bargaining proposals would compromise TCRC-CTY members' health and safety.

Details of the contracts are being withheld pending ratification by union members, CN officials said in a press release.