Workers at Canadian National Railway Co.(TSX:CNR) have approved a new three-year-contract.
The contract approval comes after the country’s largest rail strike in a decade last fall. Teamsters Canada said in a statement that the contract was approved by 91.3% of the estimated 3,200 workers, including rail conductors.
The new contract "focuses primarily on safety, specifically with regards to crew fatigue and hours of work," the union said. The agreement, which is retroactive to July 23, 2019, will provide wage increases and benefit improvements for the workers, CN Rail said in its statement.
Workers went on strike for eight days last autumn, calling for improved working conditions, including rest breaks. A tentative agreement reached between the union and CN brought them back to work in late November.
The strike triggered a severe propane shortage and left many Canadian exports stranded.
Canada relies on CN and rival Canadian Pacific Railway to move crops, oil, potash, coal and manufactured goods to national ports and the United States. About half of Canada’s exports move by railway.
Shares in CN opened Monday up 77 cents to $124.44.
