CN / IBEW
A new tentative four-year collective agreement has been reached between CN and IBEW, averting a strike. CN on Jan. 28 said that no details of the tentative agreement will be released publicly until the agreement is ratified.
The current agreement with the union, which represents approximately 750 Signals and Communication employees at the Class I across Canada, expired Dec. 31, 2024.
According to a Jan. 25 Reuters report, IBEW had issued a 72-hour strike notice to CN, noting that “barring a negotiated settlement,” it would strike at the start of Jan. 28. “The union says it’s backed by a 95 per cent strike mandate as it pushes for better work-life balance and higher pay,” the media outlet reported. At that time, CN released a statement saying it knew about the strike notice and had a contingency plan in place.
CPKC / Unifor
Following a Jan. 14 strike action notice by Unifor, CPKC on Jan. 27 reported reaching a tentative four-year collective agreement with the union, which represents approximately 1,200 CPKC employees in Canada. Details of the tentative agreement are not being released pending ratification of the new agreement, according to the railroad.
“We are pleased to have reached a tentative collective agreement at the negotiating table with our mechanical employees in Canada,” CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel said. “By working collaboratively together with Unifor, we have reached an agreement benefiting our employees and their families while continuing to serve the needs of our customers and keeping the Canadian economy moving forward.”
“The agreement addresses key priorities identified by members, including work ownership, improvements to working conditions, and repairing strained labour relations,” Unifor said in a statement to members on Jan. 27. “The bargaining committee thanks members for their overwhelming support and solidarity throughout this process. Ratification votes will be scheduled for the upcoming week, and all members are encouraged to attend and participate in the decision-making process.”
Unifor represents mechanics, laborers, diesel service attendants and mechanical support staff.
CSO / SMART-TD
CSO is the second Genesee & Wyoming property to join SMART-TD this month, the union reported Jan. 27. Wilmington Terminal Railroad was the first.
CSO’s 15 Train & Engine workers were previously under an umbrella agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The move followed “a nearly unanimous vote,” according to SMART-TD, which noted that GCA 687 Associate Chairperson Nick Greficz assisted with the organizing efforts.
CSO interchanges with CSX at Springfield, Mass., and New Haven, Conn.; Central New England Railroad at Hartford, Conn.; G&W’s Providence and Worcester Railroad at Hartford, Conn.; and Pan Am Southern Railroad operated by G&W’s Berkshire & Eastern Railroad at Berlin, Conn.
In a related development, T&E workers from Patriot Rail’s Utah Central Railway recently voted unanimously to join the BLET.
