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On Oct. 15, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) approved United Transportation Union's application seeking certification as the bargaining agent for all of Canadian Pacific Railway's 4,800 "running trade," or train and engine-service employees.

UTU currently represents conductors, trainmen and yard-service workers; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers represents locomotive engineers. Canadian Council of Railway Operating Unions bargains with CPR on behalf of UTU- and BLE-represented employees. CIRB plans to conduct a representation vote seeking workers' approval to merge the bargaining units.

"Our constitution guarantees separate general committees and local committees to represent locomotive engineers," said UTU General Chairperson Lou Schillaci in a prepared statement.

On July 10, UTU filed the application with CIRB after "many" locomotive engineers joined the union, in part to avoid becoming Teamsters if BLE merges with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in the United States, UTU officials said.

UTU currently represents 8,500 Canadian rail- and bus-industry workers.