advertisement

---

Yesterday, the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) announced Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) members ratified five collective agreements covering more than 450 crew management, clerical, rail and bus maintenance, and customer service workers in northeastern Ontario and northwestern Quebec.

The three-year contracts provide annual wage increases of 3 percent (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005) and improve benefits.

"The agreements meet the needs of our members [and] maintain ONTC's competitiveness as it continues to search out new customers and new contracts while continuing to provide valuable services to residents and businesses in the region," said Brian Stevens, president of CAW Local 103, in a prepared statement.

ONTC operates the 700-mile Ontario Northland Railway; the Northlander, Little Bear and Polar Bear Express passenger trains; and several motor coach scheduled and charter bus services; and provides telecommunication services. Ontario Northland Railway interchanges with Canadian National Railway Co., Canadian Pacific Railway and Algoma Central Railway Inc.