Unifor ratifies three new CN agreements

MONTREAL, May 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today that, following four tentative agreements reached between CN and Unifor council 4000 negotiators in March, union members reviewed the agreements and approved three of the four contracts in ratification votes. These tentative agreements were reached prior to their expiration.

The three ratified collective agreements cover approximately 2,000 CN railroaders in Canada, including all clerks and intermodal workers, excavator-operators, as well as conductors and locomotive engineers working on the SAR internal shortline in northern Alberta. The agreements include wage increases, ratification bonuses and improved medical, dental and health-care benefits as well as modified work/rest rules.

“I am very proud to announce the ratification of these agreements,” said JJ Ruest, president and chief executive officer of CN. “I would like to congratulate the negotiation teams on both sides for achieving mutually beneficial agreements for our railroaders. These agreements will also drive shareholder and customer value as they are a step toward long-term labor stability.”

CN remains committed to finding an amicable resolution for the fourth agreement covering owner-operator truck drivers of Canadian National Transportation Limited which was not approved.

About CN
CN is a true backbone of the economy, transporting more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries – serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information about CN, visit the Company’s website at www.cn.ca.