CN on Sept. 27 reported that Unifor filed a Notice of Dispute three days after the beginning of negotiations. The union represents 3,300 Mechanical, Clerical, and Intermodal employees in Canada across three collective agreements, which are set to expire Dec. 31, 2024. The Canadian Minister of Labor in October appointed three conciliators who will assist the parties in reaching an agreement. On Nov. 15, Unifor reported that its members will will hold strike votes in workplaces across Canada.
Unifor on Sept. 23 announced that its Local 100 and Council 4000 officially opened negotiations with CN, and were committed to ensuring that the Canadian Class I “understands the need for real improvements to wages, benefits, and pensions—some of which have gone unchanged for over 20 years—while also protecting work ownership for our members in an era where advancing technology threatens to eliminate jobs.” The union also noted its commitment “to improving the overall quality of life for our members, with a focus on achieving better work-life balance alongside other bargaining priorities.”
With an aim “to move talks into a positive direction,” on Sept. 27, the union said it filed for conciliation with CN. This means a Notice of Dispute has been sent to the Canadian Minister of Labor, Steven MacKinnon. During a negotiation, either party may file the notice, and it typically results in the appointment of a conciliation officer to assist the parties in reaching an agreement.
“CN Rail came to the table with demands for concessions that would undermine our members’ rights and working conditions,” Unifor National President Lana Payne reported Sept. 27. “Our mandate is clear: to improve the working conditions of our members, not to roll back hard-earned gains from previous rounds of bargaining.”
Adding to the bargaining table “challenges,” the union said, “within 24 hours of negotiations commencing, the employer issued notice to the union of its intent to lay off at least 65 Unifor members.”
CN said in a statement that while it “is disappointed that Unifor is filing the notice so early in the process, the company is committed to reaching negotiated agreements with the Union that are good for employees, customers, and the economy.”
Unifor said it is “hopeful that with the involvement of a conciliator, progress can be made on key issues,” and that it “remains committed to achieving a fair collective agreement that recognizes the critical contributions of its members at CN Rail.”
CN on Oct. 8 provided an update, reporting that the Minister of Labor had appointed three conciliators in response to Unifor’s decision to file a Notice of Dispute who will assist the parties in reaching an agreement. The conciliation period will last for 60 days, concluding Dec. 2, 2024, followed by a 21-day cooling-off period, according to the railroad, which noted that there can be no work stoppage before Jan. 1, 2025, as the collective agreement remains in effect until Dec. 31, 2024.
CN said at that time “that discussions to date with Unifor have been productive”; meetings with the union were to resume the week of Oct. 21.
The union on Nov. 15 reported that contract negotiations continued during the week of Nov. 10. It also announced that members would hold strike votes in workplaces across Canada starting Nov. 18. The move, Unifor said, would “provide members with an understanding of the union’s position and reinforce their commitment to reaching a fair deal.”
“Our members’ collective voice is important to securing a fair compensation package that reflects our members hard work and dedication,” Unifor’s Lana Payne said during the announcement. “These strike votes are a proactive measure, ensuring our members are ready for any potential outcome. Our priority is to secure a fair agreement and these strike votes will reinforce our collective resolve in standing up for respect and dignity at work.”
