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Tomorrow, 5,000 Canadian Auto Workers-represented intermodal yard, clerical and shopcraft employees plan to report for work at Canadian National Railway Co., ending a four-week strike.

Earlier this week, 81 percent of intermodal yard and clerical workers, and 69 percent of shopcraft employees voted in favor of ratifying tentative agreements reached March 15 by the union and CN.

Retroactive to Jan. 1, the three-year contracts call for annual 3 percent wage increases; a $1,000 return-to-work bonus for all striking members; a CN commitment to increase workers' pension formula to 1.8 percent; improvements to afternoon and midnight shift differentials, and vision care; and an end to CN's recently instituted discipline system and return to the system in place prior to Jan. 1, 2001. CN also agreed to take no disciplinary action against striking workers.

CAW initiated the strike Feb. 20 after union representatives rejected tentative agreements reached in January and efforts to negotiate new agreements failed. Previous contracts expired Dec. 31, 2003.