24 January 2011

CN Strike Appears Averted
But CP Negotiations Continue

Vancouver British Columbia - A strike has been apparently averted for about 4,000 Canadian National Railway Co. workers, according to union officials.
 
But talks involving 2,100 Canadian Pacific Railway workers, who voted in favour of giving their union a strike mandate, are continuing.
 
"At this time, CP negotiations with CAW [the Canadian Auto Workers union] are ongoing," CP Rail media relations manager Breanne Feigel said Monday.
 
"Our goal is to reach a negotiated settlement."
 
The CAW said Monday that a tentative deal has been reached with CN after a "48-hour marathon negotiation session".
 
Workers in the areas of mechanical, clerical, excavation operators, and truck drivers were set to strike at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday if an agreement was not reached.
 
Their last collective contract expired 31 Dec 2010.
 
"This is a hard-won collective agreement and I commend the master bargaining committee for their perseverance and dedication to resolving the issues important to our members right across the country," said CAW president Ken Lewenza.
 
Details of the agreement were not released.
 
CAW said it would be holding a series of ratification votes over the next three weeks, and details would be released after that.
 
Meanwhile, Feigel said that the earliest possible date for a strike involving CP Rail workers is 8 Feb 2011.
 
"CP has contingency plans in place and is fully prepared to operate in the event of a work stoppage," Feigel added.
 
Brian Morton.