(The following story by Ryan Jensen appeared on the Interior News website on April 4.)
OTTAWA — The voting deadline for contract ratification by striking United Transportation Union (UTU) CN Rail workers has been extended until April 9.
Voting was originally scheduled to end on March 26 but the process was lengthened after union officials reported some members had not received their ballots. After records were reviewed, it was revealed that 617 recently-hired CN employees and UTU members had been missed in the original ballot mailing.
“As soon as we realized some union members had been missed, we contacted CN Rail and arranged for an extension of the voting period,” said UTU Canadian legislative director Tim Secord. “This union is eager to have the contract ratified but ultimately it has to be the union members who make that decision and that means we have to get them the ballots even if it takes a few more days.”
While the result of the vote is still anything but certain, Secord said UTU officials would like the membership accept the one year pact that is one the table so they can deal with the other outstanding issues when bargaining for a new agreement begins in the fall.
Details of the one-year deal include: a three per cent wage increase, $1,000 cash signing bonus, improvements in the extended health care and dental plans and a continuation of employee train pass privileges.
Currently, there are 2,800 UTU members working for CN Rail as conductors and yard-service workers. UTU members walked off the job on Feb. 10 and on Feb. 24 the union and CN Rail reached a tentative deal to end the walkout. Technically, the workers will remain on strike until the agreement is ratified.
The results of the vote will be announced on April 10.