CN, Teamsters rail conference continue to negotiate new locomotive engineer contract

Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) negotiators are trying to establish a new negotiating process with CN officials that would prevent a work stoppage or service interruption if the parties fail to reach a new agreement, union leaders announced last week.

The process calls for both parties to pay predetermined amounts to charities instead of imposing a lockout or a strike if an agreement isn't reached. The process would be a first in the history of negotiations between the TCRC — which represents 1,700 CN workers — and the Class I, union officials said in a press release.

"It is time to change the negotiation template, as the tense atmosphere that hung over the previous talks did not serve anyone's interests," said TCRC President Rex Beatty.

For now, normal contract negotiation procedures are continuing smoothly, union officials said. The current contract for the locomotive engineer group expires Jan. 1, 2015.

CN has served its negotiation notice and, in accordance with the Canada Labor Code, the union has acted upon it, TCRC officials said. Soon, the parties plan to file a notice of dispute to the federal government and will request the intervention of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to help conclude the round of negotiations, they said.

Based on constructive discussions held to date, CN is optimistic that the railroad and union will be able to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement without the threat of a labor disruption, said CN spokesperson Mark Hallman in an email. CN doesn't share the view that its employees should work for reduced wages in the event the parties do not reach an agreement, he said.

"The best way to allow both CN and the TCRC’s members to continue serving our valuable customers and the Canadian economy is to reach such an agreement in the next few weeks," said Hallman.