(Resource News International) — Talks between officials with Canadian National Railway CN) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Union (TCRC), representing roughly 1,700 locomotive engineers, resumed Wednesday in hopes of reaching a new collective agreement.
Meetings between the two sides, including two federal government mediators, began Sept. 23 and carried through to Sept. 27 before adjourning for a short break. The talks resumed the week of Oct. 5 and continued through to the middle of October.
“CN remains optimistic that it can reach a settlement with the TCRC on a new collective agreement without any kind of labour disruption,” said Mark Hallman, director of communications and public affairs for CN.
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Daniel J. Shewchuk, president of the TCRC, was not available for comment, but has indicated previously that he was also optimistic that an agreement can be reached.
The previous agreement between the parties expired Dec. 31, 2008.
The locomotive engineers have given the TCRC negotiators a strike mandate should one be required. A strike vote held prior to Oct. 2 found 89.8 per cent of the workers were in favour of strike action if deemed necessary by TCRC negotiators.
The strike vote was taken as rumours began circulating that CN was ready to lock out the employees.
Details of the negotiations were not disclosed.
