Teamsters Canada Rail Conference ratifies CN contracts

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union that represents CN's train conductors and yard crews in Canada has ratified collective agreements with the railroad, CN announced late last week.

The three-year agreements are retroactive to July 23, 2019, and provide wage increases and benefit improvements for 3,200 conductors, CN officials said in a press release.

“We are pleased to have completed these agreements,” said CN Chief Executive Officer JJ Ruest.

In November 2019, the union initiated strike against the Class I that lasted eight days. Last week, CN officials announced decreases in the company's fourth-quarter 2019 revenue, earnings per share and operating income were due in part to the strike.

Over 91 percent of TCRC members who voted approved the contract, union officials said in a press release.

The new contract focuses on safety, specifically on crew fatigue and hours of work, they said.

"We did not get everything we wanted, but we still succeeded in reaching a fair agreement which will keep the trains running while improving rail safety. That’s good news for our members, the company and all Canadians,” said Francois Laporte, national president of Teamsters Canada.