UPDATED: Union opens negotiations with CN Rail, file for conciliation

Unifor says it has filed for conciliation with CN Rail in an effort to move talks into a positive direction, and claim the railroad issued notification it intends to lay off at least 65 union members.

“This move to serve notice to the union to lay off members in the midst of negotiations is very telling,” said Unifor national president Lana Payne. “My message to CN Rail is a clear one: we will not be intimidated by these tactics.”

Unifor Local 100 and Council 4000 announced Sept. 23 it had opened negotiations with CN, saying it would focus on higher to wages, pensions, benefits and work ownership protection for rail workers.

Unifor, however, claims CN representatives came to the table with demands for concessions that the union says would undermine member rights and working conditions.

“Our mandate is clear: to improve the working conditions of our members, not to roll back hard-earned gains from previous rounds of bargaining,” said Payne.

Unifor says it remains committed to achieving a fair collective agreement that recognizes the critical contributions of its members at CN Rail.

Unifor says some employer wages, pensions and benefits have gone unchanged for over 20 years. The union said its bargaining priorities will include addressing long-standing concerns with the pension plan, while also protecting members’ job security.

The current collective agreement is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2024.

Unifor represents CN Rail members at Local 100 and Council 4000, who work at CN terminals and HQ across Canada, including rail car technicians, heavy-duty mechanics and diesel engine mechanics, crane operators, machinists and electricians, as well as clerical and administration, customer support and fleet mechanics among others.