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Canadian Pacific Railway's Soo Line division and the United Transportation Union (UTU) recently reached a tentative agreement covering conductors, brakemen, switchmen, firemen and hostlers.

Retroactive to July 2005 and expiring Dec. 31, 2009, the pact "largely mirrors the national rail agreement recently ratified by UTU members employed by BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific and numerous smaller railroads," UTU officials said in a prepared statement.

The difference is the Soo Line agreement calls for entry rates to reach 100 percent wage parity within three years, the UTU said. The agreement also would require the Soo Line to implement an automated yard job selection process, which would create additional UTU jobs and enable the union to play a role in further developing the process, according to the UTU.