CN has announced that members of the United Steelworkers (USW) union Local 2004 have ratified a four-year labour agreement covering approximately 3,000 maintenance-of-way employees who inspect, maintain and repair CN's track, bridges and structures in Canada. The new agreement was reached prior to the expiry of the previous agreement and is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015. Jim Vena, CN executive vice-president and chief operating officer, said: "We commend the USW leaders and membership for reaching and ratifying an amicable and mutually beneficial collective agreement with the company before its expiration.  The agreement recognizes the value of negotiating an early deal, and it delivers solid wage and benefits improvements to union members, along with work-rule changes that will increase the efficiency of CN and its employees in maintaining and improving the company's rail infrastructure critical to Canada."