On October 26, 2012, members of the Brotherhood Railway Carmen Division of TCU/IAM ratified agreements with Canadian National (CN) and its subsidiary railroads; Bessemer & Lake Erie (B&LE), Chicago Central & Pacific (CC&P), Duluth Missabe & Iron Range (DMIR), Grand Trunk Western (GTW), Illinois Central (IC) and Wisconsin Central (WC) These agreements were ratified by a 69% margin in favor.
The Agreements deliver the outstanding wage gains from the National Agreement, plus the additional enhancement of the Journeyman rate increase to match the average National Carmen rate. The Health and Welfare provisions also track identically with what was done nationally.
For the six 6-year contract period – January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015, the wage increases are as follows:
July 1, 2010 2.0%
July 1, 2011 2.5%
July 1, 2012 4.3%
July 1, 2013 3.0%
July 1, 2014 3.8%
January 1, 2015 3.0%
The Journeyman rate of pay will be increased to match the average National Carmen rate of $26.13 effective June 30, 2012. As a result, the Carmen hourly rate will rise to $30.01 by January 1, 2015.
The agreement provides for a lump sum payment equal to 1% of straight time earnings for the twelve month period from November 1, 2010 through October 31, 2011. The 1% will be calculated after the July 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011 general wage increases have been applied.
The agreement will also provide full retroactive pay from July 1, 2010.