Unifor taking strike votes at CN

27 Feb Unifor taking strike votes at CN

Unifor’s CN workers, including freight-car mechanics and electricians, are currently negotiating a new contract with CN, as their previous agreements expired on December 31, 2022. Unifor is a national labor union representing over 4,000 workers in the Canadian transportation sector, including those working for CN, Intermodal, CNTL, and CN Savage Alberta Railway.

Despite making progress towards their bargaining aims, Unifor has announced that a couple of outstanding issues remain with Local 100, particularly related to the existing substance testing process under the Company’s drug and alcohol policy. Unifor has filed a Notice of Dispute with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and has been negotiating with the help of federal conciliators since then.

CN has offered concessions that include accrued vacation entitlements and the removal of consent to early retirement (age 55). However, the union claims that CN’s offer falls short of their members’ expectations, particularly in light of the company’s recent announcement of $1.42 billion in profits in the last three months of 2022. Additionally, the company wants Council 4000 members to forfeit a January 2 general holiday, and there is uncertainty over whether CN will continue to contribute to Unifor’s Paid Education Fund, which provides education and training for members and local leadership.

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