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Last week, Canada’s Minister of Labor Rona Ambrose appointed Andrew Sims arbitrator for negotiations between CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC). Sims previously chaired the Alberta Labor Relations Board and was a part-time vice chairman of the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

A memorandum of settlement between CN and TCRC calls for an arbitrator to make binding decisions on all outstanding issues related to wages and benefits, or any other issues both parties agree to send to arbitration.

Meanwhile, 50 yardmasters employed at CN’s Illinois Central Railroad subsidiary now are United Transportation Union (UTU) members. The workers recently decided to merge their Illinois Central Yardmaster Association — which was formed in 1950 — with the UTU.

And at the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), members on Monday elected Vice President Dennis Pierce first vice president and alternate president; and First Alternate Vice President Gil Gore, vice president and national vice president.

Pierce, who had served as national VP since April 2008, previously was first alternate national VP, general chairman, vice general chairman of the BNSF/MRL General Committee of Adjustment and local chairman. Gore previously was BLET’s general chairman of the Union Pacific-Southern Region General Committee of Adjustment and served the union in other roles.