Workers at CN Rail reject a second contract proposal by narrow margin

MONTREAL - The union that represents about 3,000 yard workers and train crews at Canadian National Railway Co. (TSX:CNR) says that a second tentative contract has been rejected by slim majority of the votes cast.

A brief statement by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference says the Feb. 5 tentative agreement was rejected by 891 votes out of 1,751 cast — about 50.9 per cent.

There were also 852 votes in favour of the deal and eight spoiled ballots cast.

The union says 64.2 per cent of active members voted.

The Teamsters says CN has proposed a form of binding arbitration as a way to reach a contract and is unwilling to meet with the union unless it is to discuss the conditions of that process.

The federal government had said it was prepared to intervene and force CN workers back to work before the tentative agreement was reached last month.