Canada Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has reached a new collective bargaining deal with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), following months of tense negotiations that had led to a brief work stoppage in August 2024.

According to a May 30 release from CPKC, the agreement was issued by an independent arbitrator, and covers roughly 3,200 locomotive engineers, conductors, train and yard workers. The deal — which includes a 3% wage increase — will be backdated to take effect on January 1, 2024, and runs through the end of 2027. The contract also includes improved healthcare and disability benefits, as well as additional pay increases for employees working overnight shifts.

Over the summer of 2024, CPKC and Canadian National Railway (CN) were locked in a standoff with the TCRC ahead of an August 22 deadline to agree to a new collective bargaining deal. The two railways ultimately locked workers out when the sides couldn't find common ground, before Canada's labor board imposed binding arbitration on the railways and the union a day later, requiring the work stoppage to end while talks continued.

An arbitrator issued a new collective bargaining agreement to TCRC workers with CN on April 7, which the union criticized at the time for maintaining the status quo, and "failing to secure any concessions related to scheduling, rest, or fatigue protections." 

SupplyChainBrain has reached out to the TCRC for a comment regarding the CPKC contract and is awaiting a response.