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United Transportation Union (UTU) members recently ratified a four-year Canadian National Railway Co. agreement covering 300 conductors on the former Wisconsin Central (WC) territory.

The pact — the first hourly rate agreement renewed by the WC, which CN acquired in 2001 — provides general wage increases through mid-2011, stipulates pay hikes retroactive to Aug. 1, 2004, and places conductors under the UTU’s national health and welfare plan that’s in effect at BNSF Railway Co., CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad.

In contrast to traditional mileage- and rule-based wage systems for engine crews, the contract calls for hourly wages and more flexible work rules, according to CN. Most of the Class I’s U.S. train and engine-service employees are covered by hourly rate agreements.