As reported in our first quarter newsletter, after several nonproductive bargaining sessions with CPKC where they expressed no interest in good faith negotiations, the Union coalition BRS is a part of invoked mediation earlier this year.  Our first mediation session was held April 20-22 with NMB Mediator Bjarne Henderson.  While it was more productive than our previous sessions, the Carrier continued to demonstrate apathy toward the process and made little movement.

We had our second mediation session in-person in Chicago from May 12-14.  Some softening was recognized in the Carrier’s positions but they still seem reluctant to come our way and make a reasonable offer of settlement. What we can say is having Mediator Henderson facilitate the process seems to be fostering progress that we were not seeing before.  Our next mediation session will be July 6-8 and we hope to have tangible progress to report after that time.

As mentioned in a previous article, CPKC recently announced what it considered “industry leading” earnings numbers.  That being said, the Carrier can easily afford to match wages paid by the other Class 1s in the industry.  We intend to stay in this fight as long as it takes to get to a ratifiable Agreement that addresses the needs of BRS members.