CN, IBEW end arbitration, announce new contract

CN yesterday announced an arbitration process has concluded and a new contract has been reached with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

The three-year collective agreement will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022, and run through Dec. 31, 2024. The agreement calls for a 3% wage increase for each year in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The IBEW represents about 750 unionized signals and communications employees in CN’s Canadian operations.

"We are satisfied to have concluded this arbitration," said CN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Reilly in a press release.

CN continues to "focus on implementing a back-to-basics approach by running a scheduled operation, aligning capacity with demand and working closely with our customers and stakeholders to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency" of the company's rail network, Reilly added.