UTU MEMBERS ON CN DIVISION RATIFY LABOR PACT

UTU MEMBERS ON CN DIVISION RATIFY LABOR PACT    Canadian National Railway Co. said Wednesday that Wisconsin Central Division conductors represented by the United Transportation Union have ratified a new, two-year collective bargaining agreement, which went into effect Thursday.
   CN said the agreement would strengthen WCD methods of utilizing employees and equipment under an hourly pay system for UTU members, while preserving work-rule flexibility. In exchange for improved productivity, all 320 WCD UTU members currently qualified as conductors are entitled to job security.
   This March, more than 300 Bureau of Locomotive Engineers working on WCD ratified a three-year agreement running to April 1, 2005. Earlier in July, BLE members on CN’s former Illinois Central properties ratified an hourly-rated agreement, which also takes effect Thursday.
   CN’s former IC properties include the Illinois Central Railroad, running from Chicago to New Orleans, and the Chicago, Central & Pacific, which connects Chicago and Omaha, and Sioux City, Iowa.