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CN and union reach one-year deal
Montreal—Striking workers at Canadian National Railway (CN) returned to the job late February, under a tentative one-year agreement.
The labour dispute—involving 2,800 conductors and yard workers—lasted more than two weeks. The federal government tabled back-to-work legislation, but an agreement reached in weekend negotiations averted the order.
“Back-to-work legislation would have a devastating effect on labour relations on the railway,” said Rex Beatty, union chief negotiator, during an attempt by employees on February 21 to return to work. The move was blocked by CN.
As the strike continued, stakeholders in Canada’s mining and resources industries called for government intervention. “The shipment of fuel and other supplies to mine sites is being compromised, as is the transport of mining products, which may cause a halt in production and closure at some sites,” said Peter Jones, chairman of the Mining Association of Canada and president and CEO of HudBay Minerals Inc.
Tembec, a forest products company in Temiscaming, Que., also called upon the federal government to end the strike. “The impact of this strike on Tembec, on the industry and on communities all over Canada is increasing every day,” said James Lopez, president and CEO of Tembec.
“Raw materials, particularly chemicals, are running low at some of our production sites, as are supplies such as diesel which is critical to both our woodlands operations and to our ability to get much of our product out to market. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.”
At press time, CN and union members were still far apart on working conditions, but had agreed to a three per cent wage increase for 2007, and a $1,000 signing bonus. The previous three-year agreement expired at the end of 2006. The new agreement should forestall additional strikes at least until the end of the year. b2b
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