A tentative agreement was reached at 0630 am Monday morning covering almost 400 Owner-Operators employed by Canadian National Transport Limited. The full text of the agreement can be downloaded as a Word document by
right-clicking here and choosing "Save Target as..." This highlights document can be downloaded in
Railfax format by
right-clicking here.
Duration: Term of three (3) years, from Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2006.
Lump-sum payment: All Owner-Operators active on the date of ratification will receive a one-time amount of $1,000 as an insurance adjustment.
Zone rates: All zone rates, including off-line moves, will be increased by $1.00 in each year of the agreement (total of $3.00 by 2006). This represents an average increase of more than three (3) percent per year. NOTE: This is the first time ever that zone rates have been addressed, and increased, in national negotiations.
Highway rates: Increased by $.02 cents per mile in each year of the agreement (total of $.06 by 2006).
Terminal time: At the CN intermodal terminals only, the shunt rate and waiting rates will be replaced by a single “terminal rate”. This new rate will be equal initially to the current wait time rate plus one dollar ($1.00), with two additional $1.00 increases in the remaining years of the agreement, for a total of current wait time rate plus $3.00 by 2006.
Wait time at customer only (not CN terminal): To be increased by $1.00 in each year of the agreement.
Fuel price: The price per litre paid by Owner-Operators will continue to be frozen.
Safety Bonus: The safety bonus as per the present rules will continue to be paid .
D.E.T.: The up to $100 monthly charge currently paid by Owner-Operators will stop after December 31, 2004. After that, Owner-Operators may be required to purchase a new handheld device. The charge will be capped at $500, payable in ten (10) equal monthly instalments starting January 2005. After that, the Company will pay all the monthly communication fees.
Discipline: Before Owner-Operators are disciplined, they will receive notice of the allegations, have 24 hours to consult with a union representative, and have an opportunity in a meeting or teleconference, together with their union rep if so desired, to answer the allegations before the final decision is made.
Short pay: If an Owner-Operator’s pay is short by $400 or more, he/she may demand special payment within no more than five (5) banking days.
Recovery from strike impact: At each terminal, available work will be allocated to provide an average of 50 hours of work per week, in seniority order. Should available work run out, then junior Owner-Operators may be laid off temporarily. The Company may keep no more than 25 external brokers across the whole system during this period. This provision applies until August 31, 2004, when the 70/30 ratio in Appendix 1 will again apply.
Intrazone moves: Any move at a customer which requires driving more than one kilometre on customer property, or being directed to an alternate facility where travel distance is more than one kilometre using a public road, will be paid as an intrazone move.
New hiring: There will be no new hiring of Owner-Operators at a location without first consulting with the local shop steward. NOTE: This does not mean that the Union can veto new hiring, only that we must have an opportunity to raise our concerns before it happens.
Employee and Family Assistance Program: CN’s EFAP program will be extended to cover Owner-Operators.
# posted by Admin @ 9:04 AM
