Cdn Natl Rail Still Hopeful On Labor Negotiations >CNI
Monday January 17, 4:16 PM EST
TORONTO (Dow Jones)--Canadian National Railway Co. (CNI) is still hopeful negotiations will result in a deal with three holdout unions, even as the labor groups ask their members for strike mandates.
"We're hopeful for a dialogue," Canadian National spokesman Mark Hallman said Monday.
Even if talks are unsuccessful, no action by either the unions or the railroad can be taken as federal labor regulators are reviewing essential rail service levels.
Talks between the railroad and the United Transportation Union, or UTU, which represents 2,500 trade and yard workers, broke down Friday. No new negotiations are scheduled and the union said it will ask its members for a strike mandate.
Meanwhile, the Teamsters Rail Canada Conference, which represents the 1,750 railroad engineers, has already asked its members for a strike mandate. And the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers plans to ask its 700 members for a mandate this week.
Contracts for all three labor groups expired at the end of 2003.
The UTU is theoretically in a strike position on Jan. 21, the Teamsters on Jan. 25 and the IBEW on March 2. All three are in the conciliation with the railroad and federal labor regulators.
The Canadian Industrial Relations Board is studying the minimal level of rail service that must be maintained in the event of a strike or lockout. A spokesman for the CIRB wasn't immediately available for comment.
In a press release, the UTU said the main concerns of its members relate to " quality of life" principles, rather than salaries.
Similar issues concern the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said union chairman Kevin Kearns. He said negotiations with the railroad have dealt principally with its new discipline policy and the treatment of employees. Kearns said he still hoped to continue negotiating with the company.
"We're still trying to get a commitment out of them for a last round of negotiations," he said.
A four-week strike by 5,000 members of the Canadian Auto Workers last year cut about C$40 million from Canadian National's first-quarter profits and caused revenue and productivity gains to retreat in the period. The controversial issues in those negotiations was also centered on quality of life issues and the railroad's disciplinary procedure.
Company Web Site: http://www.cn.ca
-Monica Gutschi, Dow Jones Newswires; 416-306-2017; monica.gutschi@ dowjones.com
Dow Jones Newswires
01-17-05 1616ET
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