Minister Leitch applauds both parties on reaching a tentative agreement in the CN negotiations

GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 31, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, congratulated the Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), on reaching a tentative agreement.

"Our Government is committed to protecting Canadian businesses, workers, families and the economy," said Minister Leitch. "I am pleased that the parties were able to work together to reach a tentative agreement. I look forward to the official ratification and applaud the parties for maintaining strong labour-management relations."

CN is the largest railway in Canada and transports approximately $250 billion worth of goods annually ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods. It transports products for a wide range of business sectors across a rail network spanning Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico.

The TCRC represents approximately 3 300 CN employees who include conductors, assistant conductors, baggage persons, car retarder operators, yard operations employees, switch tenders, traffic coordinators and assistant traffic coordinators.

The tentative agreement, which is subject to ratification by union members, was reached with the assistance of mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada