MONTREAL — Canadian National and the Canadian Auto Workers union have reached a tentative agreement.
CN, however, is withholding details of the agreement until it is ratified. The railroad said the agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004.
CAW shopcraft, intermodal and clerical members remain on strike at CN, as they have been since Feb. 20, pending ratification of new agreements.
CN has also reached a tentative agreement covering owner/operator truck drivers represented by the CAW. These drivers are not on strike.
CAW notified CN on Feb. 16 that it would launch labor action against the company starting Feb. 20, if the parties fail to reach new tentative agreements by then. CAW’s existing contracts ended on Dec. 31, 2003.
CN announced Feb. 17 that it had rejected three tentative agreements between it and CAW fell through.
At that time, CN indicated it had no plans for further discussions with the union.
CN and the CAW adjourned talks the two sides, aided by federal mediators, could not come to terms on new agreements.
Published in the April 2004 edition of The Cross-Tie.
