CN pleased with ratification of new collective agreements by CAW members

CN today (Jan, 29th, 2007) welcomed ratification of new collective labour agreements by members of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union. The CAW represents approximately 4,000 CN employees in Canada.

The four-year labour agreements, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2007, include wage and benefit improvements for CAW-represented employees in CN's shopcraft and clerical/intermodal functions, as well as for owner/operator truckers working for a trucking subsidiary that supports CN's intermodal group.

The collective agreements covering shopcraft and clerical/intermodal employees provide for annual wage increases of three per cent during the first three years of the deals and a four per cent wage increase in the final year of the contracts. These employees will also benefit from a post-retirement health care plan, and shopcraft employees will gain individual employment guarantees during the life of the contract. Owner/operators will see an increase in mileage rates, among other improvements.