Unifor and CN reach tentative agreement

Mar 22, 2023

Details won’t be released until after Unifor members ratify the deal

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Unifor and Canadian National Railway (CN) have avoided a strike.

The two sides reached a tentative agreement, the two sides announced on March 20.

“We are very pleased to have reached these tentative agreements,” Tracy Robinson, president and CEO of CN, said in a statement. “CN has always been committed to achieving negotiated settlements to improve the conditions of this important group of employees as we continue our essential work moving the North American economy. We look forward to future collaboration with Unifor.”

Had a strike occurred, more than 3,000 workers would’ve walked off the job.

The two sides began negotiations in October 2022, two months before Unifor’s contracts with CN expired.

Wages, benefits and changes to early retirement were among the points the two sides negotiated over.

Talks continued until March when Unifor Local 100 and Council 4000 members voted 98 and 97 per cent in favour of a strike.

March 21 would’ve been the earliest date a strike could take place, following a 72-hour notice.

Details of the new contract aren’t publicly available, but Unifor is pleased with the outcome of the negotiations.

“These negotiations were fraught with challenges, including demands for concessions by CN,” Unifor National President Lana Payne said in a statement. “With the solid support of the membership, the bargaining committees were able to stand up to this large profitable company and persevere to secure the tentative agreements.”

Both Unifor and CN won’t make the contract details public until ratification votes take place.

Those are scheduled for “the near future,” Unifor says.

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm