MONTREAL — On Jan. 28 rail bosses at Canadian National Railway and union officials of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents the signal and communications workers, announced that a tentative four-year agreement had been reached, the same day workers were preparing to set up picket lines. No details of the pact have been released, as the union’s members still have to vote on it. The unionists had served notice they could go on strike that day.
The 750 signalers are demanding higher wages, improved “work-life balance” and improved benefits. They work long hours, on call and often away from home.
The signalers went on strike for two weeks in 2022, getting support from Canadian National rail conductors in Montreal, who are members of the Teamsters union, and members of the Confederation of National Trade Unions locked out at Rolls Royce.