Media advisory - Unifor members approve new deal with CP

TORONTO, March 9, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor Local 101R members have ratified a new collective agreement with CP Rail by 79 per cent.

Voting took place at membership meetings over the last two weeks, in 26 locations across Canada. The agreement was reached on Saturday, February 14, minutes before the deadline.

"We're pleased to have reached and ratified this new agreement with CP which improves our members' conditions at work and recognizes their contributions to CP's incredible financial success over the last few years," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.  

"Although challenging, this round of negotiations showed that a settlement reached at the bargaining table is the best deal for everyone – it's the time every few years that workers can have a direct say in improving their conditions and sharing in the wealth they help create. Only through the work of unions is this possible."

The agreement included wage increases in each of the four years, improvements to benefits, a commitment to maintaining operations at the Winnipeg Weston facility (employing 160 people),  stronger apprenticeship ratios, the women's advocate program and an initiative to allow skilled trades members leave to assist in repair work at not for profit community agencies.

"With this new agreement, we hope that we will improve our working relationship with CP so that our members are treated fairly and with respect on the job," Unifor Local 101R President Tom Murphy.

The highlights package of the CP agreement can be viewed here: http://www.unifor.org/sites/default/files/documents/document/unifor-cplocal101r_eng_2015.pdf

Unifor Local 101R represents 1,625 members at CP Rail who conduct safety inspections on all rail cars and locomotives, as well as maintenance and repairs. Ratification meetings at CN Rail are ongoing with results expected by March 16.

Unifor has six collective agreements with CN Rail, which cover mechanics, clerical workers, excavator operators, locomotive engineers (Savage Rail) and truck drivers. Unifor Local 100 represents skilled trades in mechanical shops and Unifor Council 4000 represents intermodal, clerical, mechanics and owner operators.

Unifor represents 9,000 railway workers and 305,000 members across the country in every sector of the economy.

SOURCE Unifor