For CN, IBEW, New Collective Agreement

Photograph Courtesy of CN, via Twitter

CN on Oct. 11 reported that arbitration with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has concluded, resulting in a three-year collective agreement.

IBEW—which represents about 750 signals and communications employees in Canada—agreed to binding arbitration on July 4, ending a strike at CN that began June 18.

The new agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022, and runs through Dec. 31, 2024; it includes a 3% wage increase for each of 2022, 2023 and 2024, according to CN.

“We are satisfied to have concluded this arbitration,” CN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Reilly said. “We continue to focus on implementing a back to basics approach by running a scheduled operation, aligning capacity with demand, and working closely with our customers and stakeholders to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the best network in North America.”

The IBEW workers last ratified a five-year contract with CN at the end of April 2017. It provided for 2% raises in the first three years and 3% increases in its final two years.