Unionized maintenance workers at Canadian Pacific Railway have ratified a new four-year contract.
Representatives of the Unifor union said in a March 9 news release that 79 percent of unionized workers who took part in a ratification vote supported the new deal.
The agreement was negotiated Feb. 14, just minutes before a strike deadline.
Unifor local 101R represents more than 1,000 workers at CP, including mechanics, maintenance workers and safety inspectors who inspect rail cars and locomotives.
The agreement includes wage increases in each of the four years, improvements to benefits, improved apprenticeship ratios, a women’s advocacy program and an initiative to allow skilled trades members leave to assist in repair work at not-for-profit community agencies.
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The deal also includes a commitment from CP to maintain operations at the Winnipeg Weston facility, which employs 160 people.
“We’re pleased to have reached and ratified this new agreement with CP, which improves our members’ conditions at work and recognizes their contributions to CP’s incredible financial success over the last few years,” said Unifor president Jerry Dias.
Added Unifor Local 101R president Tom Murphy: “With this new agreement, we hope that we will improve our working relationship with CP so that our members are treated fairly and with respect on the job.”
CP said in a March 9 news release that the Unifor agreement covers 1,200 active mechanical employees.
“This negotiated agreement is fair to both sides and is the result of hard work by all of those involved,” said Peter Edwards, CP’s vice-president of human resources.
“We look forward to further developing our positive working relationship with our Unifor employees over the next four years.”
CP now has long-term collective agreements in place with six unions.
It is currently in binding arbitration with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, which represents locomotive engineers and conductors.
Contact brian.cross@producer.com
