UTU, CN reach tentative pact
for Michigan Zone workers
TROY, Mich. -- The UTU and the Canadian National Railway (CN) have reached a tentative contract covering about 450 UTU-represented workers on the former Grand Trunk Western Railway.

At UTU News press time, the proposal was out for a ratification vote, with ballots to be counted Dec. 5.

The former Grand Trunk territory covered by the tentative contract, stretching from Port Huron, Mich., to Toledo, Ohio, and Chicago, is now the Michigan Zone in CN's Midwest Division. It includes the Grand Trunk Western, the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton, and the Detroit & Toledo Shore Line, where the UTU represents conductors, brakemen and yardmen.

If approved, the new UTU/CN contract would be retroactive to 1998 and run through the end of 2001.

General Chairperson Steve Thompson said negotiations over the contract have been going on for almost three years. "Section 6 notices were served in February 1998; our last pay raise was in 1997," Thompson said.

Part of the delay in hammering out the new pact was due to the cramdown maneuvers pursued by CN following its purchase of the railroads affected by this contract.

"That took time away from negotiations. They were successful in putting the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton agreement in force over the whole system. Basically, it meant a loss of pay for most members, but in return, we got lifetime protection, with automatic certification for most employees hired prior to 1980," Thompson explained.

The proposed pact corrects many problems of previous agreements, Thompson said.

"We eliminated pre- and post-'85 differences, and we also eliminated the pre- and post-'85 discrepancies in pay for deadheading," Thomspson explained. "We also dealt with the problem of guaranteed extra boards, and if this pact is ratified, we will have a weekly guarantee. We also have a short-term disability and life insurance policy that will cover employees for on- and off-duty injuries which pays 60% of weekly earnings to a maximum of $546 a week, up to 104 weeks. The policy also includes a $40,000 death benefit and a $42,000 accidental death benefit."

Thompson also said the tentative pact provides for participation in a quality-of-life labor/management committee to discuss such things as availability, rest days, assigned days off on the extra board and other issues.

"I think it is a real good agreement," Thompson said. "It eliminates entry rates immediately. Anyone with a seniority date when the agreement goes into effect receives 100%. Anybody hired after the implementation date will hire in at 90% until they make the grade of conductor, which takes from four months to a year. If the member is there a year, he or she is automatically upgraded to the 100% pay level."

"I think this is the best and final offer that will come from the carrier," Thompson said. "It is in the best interest of members that it should be ratified."

Because of the delay in negotiations, if the proposed pact is ratified, it will be up for re-negotiation in December 2001. "We can serve Section 6 notices in November 2001," Thompson noted.

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