The single agreement, covering more than 430 employees, will generate greater labor flexibility and operational efficiencies in CN's important freight corridor between the Canadian and United States border at International Falls, Minn., and Chicago.
The new contract, which is effective Jan. 1, 2012, and includes general wage increases, was negotiated in anticipation of the intra-corporate family merger of CN's Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway Company and Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway Company subsidiaries into its Wisconsin Central Ltd. unit. The Surface Transportation Board approved the merger in June 2011, subject only to labor implementing agreements. UTU members on all three properties ratified the contract.
Jim Vena, CN senior vice-president, Southern Region, said: "CN is pleased to have reached this milestone labor agreement with the UTU. This single collective agreement for all conductors and brakemen in the Upper Midwest is an important step to allow CN to run its trains seamlessly across the Upper Midwest and to make greater use of our employee base. This, in turn, will help us deliver better service to our customers."
