Unifor reaches new agreement with CP Rail minutes before the deadline

MONTREAL, Feb. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor has reached a new tentative agreement with CP Rail, minutes before the 12:01 am deadline.

Unifor Local 101R represents 1,800 members at CP Rail in 18 different locations. Unifor members conduct safety inspections on all rail cars and locomotives, as well as maintenance and repairs. The current collective agreement expired on December 31, 2014 and negotiations had been taking place since September.

"This was a very difficult set of negotiations, but I'm pleased that we were able to break new ground in several different areas," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

"We were able to negotiate a new agreement that addresses the concerns raised by our members, while avoiding a work stoppage," said Unifor Local 101R Tom Murphy. 

The union will now meet with local lodge presidents and workplace chairpeople to review the contents of the agreement. From there, ratification meetings will be scheduled in locations across the country over the next three weeks. Details of the agreement will only be disclosed following ratification. 

Negotiations with CN continue to be slow, with little progress being made. There is currently no strike deadline at CN and a strike vote has not yet been taken. 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 is the largest union at CN with more than 4,800 members.

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

SOURCE Unifor

Related Links

http://www.caw.ca