CN: Traffic controllers union ratifies four-year pact, sustainability program selects grant recipients

CN announced yesterday that the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Rail Canada Traffic Controllers (TCRC-RCTC) union ratified the terms of a four-year labor agreement first drawn up on Jan. 15.

The agreement applies to about 180 rail traffic controllers employed by CN.

"We are delighted to see another union ratify a new labor contract as we wrap up this current round of bargaining in Canada," said Jim Vena, CN's executive vice president and chief operating officer, in a press release. "The agreement was amicably negotiated by the company and union and will deliver real wage and benefit improvements to our employees."

The Class I's agreement with Unifor reached earlier this week still is pending ratification.

CN also announced that it had selected 35 communities to receive grants of up to $25,000 each to initiate tree-planting and general sustainability practices. A total of 159 applicants vied for the "From the Ground Up" program grants, which were jointly administered by CN, Tree Canada and Communities in Bloom. Now in its fourth year, the program aims to promote sustainability in communities.