Tentative deal between CN Rail, striking workers

24/02/2007 11:33:16 PM

CN Rail has reached a tentative deal with about 2,800 employees to end a two-week-old strike.

CTV.ca News Staff

The federal government has been threatening to step in and end the strike.

Freight train conductors and switchyard employees are currently off work, but the United Transportation Union is urging them to return to their jobs pending a ratification vote.

"We are hopeful that this will greatly reduce the possibility of the Canadian government continuing to move forward on back-to-work legislation," the union negotiators said in a statement.

That ratification vote is scheduled to be completed by March 26. No details of the deal are available yet.

The federal government had tabled legislation on Friday ordering the strikers back to work.

Supply shortages were causing layoffs and other economic problems acoss the country,
Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn told the House of Commons.

MPs were to deal with the legislation this coming week.

CN management personnel have been keeping the company's freight service running.

Passenger and commuter train service hasn't been affected by the strike.
With files from The Canadian Press