The union members, employed at CN terminals and headquarters, include railcar technicians, heavy-duty mechanics, diesel engine mechanics, crane operators, machinists, and electricians, as well as clerical and administration, customer support, and fleet mechanics, among other workers. Their current collective agreement is set to expire Dec. 31, 2024.
“Our committees are committed to ensuring that the employer 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,” according to Unifor, which noted that it is “committed to improving the overall quality of life for our members, with a focus on achieving better work-life balance alongside other bargaining priorities.”
“Our members at CN Rail go above and beyond to make sure the trains operate and cargo moves across the country,” Unifor National President Lana Payne said. “Unifor and our members know how to fight, and we expect to win important improvements for rail workers in this round of bargaining.”
A CN spokesperson told Railway Age: “We look forward to meaningful discussions at the bargaining table that will help us reach agreements that are good for our employees, the Company, and our stakeholders. We value our relationships with unions representing CN employees and we are committed to reaching negotiated agreements.”
