No details of pact will be released publicly until the agreement is ratified, according to the Canadian Class I. The move comes two weeks after Unifor members of Council 4000 and Local 100 at CN announced they had voted in favor of a strike action should a collective agreement not be reached by Jan. 1, 2025. The current agreement expires Dec. 31, 2024.
Council 4000 and Local 100 represent some 3,300 employees in Canada working in different CN mechanical, clerical, and intermodal functions.
According to the union, ratification votes will be held in the coming weeks, with specific schedules to be shared through local union representatives.
“Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 CN Master Bargaining Committees are pleased to announce that a tentative agreement has been reached with CN, following extensive bargaining focused on securing meaningful gains for members,” the union reported Dec. 9. “It is essential that members participate in these votes and attend their designated ratification meetings, where the full details of the agreement will be presented and discussed in-depth. These meetings provide the only forum for discussing the agreement with your bargaining team, and we urge all members to make their voices heard. We recognize the challenges faced during this round of negotiations and thank members for their continued solidarity and patience as we worked to achieve a deal that meets your needs. This agreement marks a significant step forward in securing improved conditions and protections for Unifor members at CN.”
Background
Unifor in September announced that it officially opened negotiations with CN, and said Council 4000 and Local 100 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.” Additionally, the union 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.”
Later the same month, the union filed for conciliation with CN. That means a Notice of Dispute was sent to the Canadian Minister of Labor, Steven MacKinnon. Either party may file the notice during negotiations, and it typically results in the appointment of a conciliation officer to assist the parties in reaching an agreement.
CN said in a statement at that time 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 was “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.”
The Minister of Labor appointed three conciliators in response to Unifor’s decision to file a Notice of Dispute, CN reported Oct. 8. The conciliators will assist the parties in reaching an agreement. The conciliation period was set to last 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.
The union on Nov. 15 announced that its 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 National President 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.”
Unifor on Nov. 25 reported that 96% of Local 100 members and 97% of Council 4000 members voted in support of the strike action.
“This overwhelming vote sends a clear message to CN that our members are united and prepared to take action to achieve the fair treatment and respect they deserve,” Lana Payne said.
According to Reuters, CN spokesperson Ashley Michnowski commented: “CN is committed to reaching negotiated agreements with Unifor that are good for employees, customers, and the economy.”
