CN reaches paid sick time agreements with four unions in U.S.

MONTREAL — Canadian National has reached agreements with four mechanical unions in the U.S. regarding paid sick time.

The agreements provide workers with four paid sick days plus three personal leave days to be used as sick days, CN said today.

The four unions are the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Conference of Firemen and Oilers, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths, and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Mechanical Department.

CN has become the fifth railroad to reach paid sick time agreements with some of its unions. BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific have reached similar deals with some unions.

Paid sick time was a sticking point in the protracted labor negotiations last year that culminated in Congress imposing the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board. The PEB said sick time was a matter that should be negotiated between the railroads and the unions that represent workers.