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On Aug. 6, Canadian Pacific Railway and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers-Rail Canada Traffic Controllers (RCTC) reached a three-year agreement, ending a seven-week strike and lockout.


RCTC represents 220 CPR rail-traffic controllers (RTCs), who ratified the deal Aug. 5.


Extending to Dec. 31, 2005, the contract provides 2 percent, 3 percent and 2 percent wage increases for each of the next three years, respectively, includes some work-rule flexibility and improves pension benefits.


"While many of our targeted improvements have been met, the strike has taken its toll on the union/management relationship," said BLE National Advisor Darrell Arnold in a prepared statement. "The company has made a solid commitment to address some outstanding issues and they have assured us that the work will get under way immediately."


Without a contract since Jan. 1, union members went on strike June 18. CPR then locked out employees after negotiations broke down and rail-traffic control managers served as interim RTCs. Some RTCs are expected to return to work Aug. 9.


"This agreement provides a constructive end to a long period of negotiation and delivers benefits to both the employees and the company," said CPR Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ed Dodge. "We look forward to welcoming the RTCs back to work and moving [on]."