CN Rail, Teamsters reach tentative deal to avoid strike

Canadian National Railway and the union for more than 3,000 conductors, train and yard workershavereached an agreement in principle on a new collective agreement, averting a possible labour disruption that could have started early Tuesday morning.

Teamsters Canada Rail Conference presidentDoug Finnsontold CBC Newsthe two sides are still working on the wording of the agreement.

A CN spokesman said the company was pleased to have reached a verbal agreement with the union.

A new deal must still be ratified in a vote by union members over the coming days and weeks.

Last week, the Teamsters union announced its members had voted 98 per cent in favour of a strike mandate. Theywould have been in position to go off the job at4 a.m. ET on Tuesday.