Steelworkers Ratify Landmark Agreement with Canadian National Railway
01/17/2008 - Members of USW Local 2004 ratify a four-year labor agreement with the Canadian National Railway that includes a number of noteworthy benefits.
Members of United Steelworkers' (USW) Local 2004 have ratified the tentative agreement that had been reached in November with the Canadian National Railway Co.
"This four-year agreement exceeds the industry standard in many ways, including providing the highest wage increases in the rail sector," said USW National Director Ken Neumann. "For the first time, our union has negotiated a drug card so that members are not out of pocket when they buy prescription drugs. There is a 41% increase in the weekend travel allowance, improvements in meal and lodging allowances along with inflation protection for those allowances."
The new agreement with CN introduces post-retirement healthcare and includes a $1000 signing bonus. The agreement also includes improvements to the dental, short-term disability and extended healthcare benefits.
The parties reached their November settlement well in advance of the previous contract's expiry date of Dec. 31. Union members voted in a mail-in ballot over several weeks and the response was strong, said Neumann, with more than two thirds of the 3200 local members returning ballots.
"In addition to the solidarity of members in Local 2004, this new contract is also the result of improved relations between CN and the union," said Neumann. "We look forward to implementing the provisions of this agreement, which undoubtedly will make CN a better place to work."
The USW is Canada's most diverse union, representing more than 280,000 men and women working in every sector of Canada's economy.
