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By an "unheard-of margin," United Transportation Union (UTU) members employed at Canadian National Railway Co. subsidiary Illinois Central (IC) have ratified a four-year agreement, according to the union. The Class I and UTU reached a tentative agreement in late January.

Out of 648 member conductors and brakemen eligible to vote, 76 percent returned ballots and 80 percent of those ballots favored the pact. Retroactive to Aug. 1, 2006, and expiring July 31, 2010, the contract covers workers at the former IC, Chicago Central & Pacific, and Gulf, Mobile & Ohio lines.

In addition to wage increases and benefit improvements, the pact extends an hourly rate agreement to IC conductors and brakemen. CN has hourly rate pacts in place for virtually all its U.S. train and engine-service employees.

"The hourly agreement provides extra-board employees the same three days off each pay period, and guarantees reliable and predictable schedules and days off for train crews," said UTU General Chairperson R.W. Dare in a prepared statement.