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Last week, 81 percent of Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) members ratified a three-year agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway.

Covering 2,500 mechanical services employees in Canada and expiring Dec. 31, 2010, the contract includes a 9.3 percent wage increase for non-skilled trades workers and more than 16 percent increase for skilled trades employees. The pact also improves benefits and work rules, and boosts job security, the union said.

The parties reached the agreement Jan. 27, averting a strike the CAW planned to launch the next day. CPR and the union had been trying to negotiate an agreement since October and remained far apart on concessions until late January.

Meanwhile, a 90 percent majority of Transportation Communications Union members ratified a five-year agreement with CSX Intermodal. Expiring Dec. 31, the contract follows the pattern of the national freight agreement, but also adds a 401(k) plan and sought-after rule changes, the union said.