The four-year agreement would renew, for the first time, the hourly rate agreement for conductors and brakemen on the former IC and CCP. If ratified, the agreement would be retroactive to Aug. 1, 2006, and run through July 31, 2010.
Kim Madigan, CN vice-president of Labor Relations, said: 'CN is pleased to have reached this agreement with the UTU. As both parties have learned through the last few years, this new type of agreement improves our operations and service to our customers, our employees' compensation and quality of life, and our relationships in the field and at the bargaining table. All of us appreciated the participation of the UTU's international president in this process.'
CN has hourly rate agreements in place for virtually all of its US train and engine employees.
UTU International President Mike Futhey, who assisted in negotiations, praised the efforts of Chairpersons R. W. 'Red' Dare and Tracy Bublitz, as well as the negotiating committee, which included Butch St. John and Ron Caldwell.
'Jointly, with the carrier, we have addressed a number of the concerns voiced by the membership,' Futhey said. 'In addition, issues beneficial to the membership will be addressed in the established labor-management conference committee. A meeting for local chairpersons will be held in Memphis on Feb. 14 for presentation of the agreement prior to the membership ratification vote.'
Details of the tentative agreement are being withheld pending a ratification vote. The voting results should be announced in mid-March.
