(The Canadian Pacific Railway issued the following news release on January 18.)
CALGARY, Alberta — The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and Canadian Pacific Railway announced that a four-year collective agreement has been ratified by train crew employees.
The agreement with CPR’s 4,500 train crew employees, the railway’s largest bargaining group, extends to the end of 2006. It provides for wage, pension and benefits improvements, as well as work rule changes that will generate increased productivity. Wage increases are 2 per cent for 2003, 3 per cent for 2004, 2.5 per cent for 2005 and 3 per cent for 2006.
Rob Ritchie, President and Chief Executive Officer of CPR, said: “We have achieved a balanced agreement that brings value to our employees and our shareholders and ensures a stable, productive relationship with the Teamsters. The wage, benefit and work rule improvements are consistent with the pattern CPR has established in other collective agreements.”
George Hucker, Vice-President and National Legislative Representative with the Teamsters, said the agreement is the first with CPR since the Teamsters gained bargaining rights in 2004. “In addition to improvements secured in traditional areas, this agreement includes a framework to move forward in areas that will improve lifestyle for our membership.”
On January 14, CPR and the Maintenance of Way Division of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, which represents approximately 2,150 track maintenance employees, reached a Memorandum of Settlement to renew their collective agreement through the end of 2006. Details of the three-year settlement are not available pending ratification. Results of the ratification vote are expected in March.
Teamsters Canada is a labour organization with over 105,000 members. It is affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which has 1.5 million members across North America. For more information, visit the Teamsters Canada Website at http://www.teamsters-canada.org/ or the Rail Conference at http://www.teamstersrail.ca.
Canadian Pacific Railway is a transcontinental carrier operating in Canada and the U.S. Its 14,000-mile rail network serves the principal centres of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver, and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest regions. CPR feeds directly into America’s heartland from the East and West coasts. Alliances with other carriers extend its market reach throughout the U.S. and into Mexico. Canadian Pacific Logistics Solutions provides logistics and supply chain expertise worldwide. For more information, visit CPR’s website at www.cpr.ca.