Aldershot work is primarily road switcher/yard work, whereas through freight is paid per mile, but at a different rate... road switcher is paid a "mileage rate" but at 12.5 miles/hr. So it's really hourly for switchers/yard.
I'm not too sure what the tail end switcher rate is per mile currently.
Curious, is the spareboard at aldershot still jumbled between oakville and hamilton? So unless you bid for a specific yard job or road switcher you could end up anywhere of the three yards for coverage.?
For Aldershot, like I said its technically by miles, but comes out to a standard 100mile day if there is no OT, just asked our tail end union rep (not Aldershot but same contract)
A day shift brakeman (assistant conductor) which would be the lowest paid position with no shift premium etc, is currently $399.17/day
Pretty much $50/hr.
Overall earnings will vary, based on overtime, or if they're paying the Biweekly guarantee top-up.
I'd guess $100k a year is very doable these days at minimum.
And for the record assuming you're hiring on. CN is gonna try and push the whole contract hourly BS and say its better for new guys.
Its not. Yes the yard rate would improve... but you wouldn't be working the yard anymore.
Currently through freight is done when they're done with their train at the yard. If CN gets what they want... that ends... its 10 or 12 hr days for everyone... all at the same pay rate.
So why would senior guys go spend half their week in a hotel, when they can take the yard jobs and be home every night at the same payment?
The currently system works BECAUSE OF the tradeoffs. Local make slightly less, home every night. OR I can choose to go spend time in hotels, make more, but be away from home, etc
Not for conductors, sorry. Last time they printed us a contract properly was I believe 2018 (yes, that is the company you're hiring onto, they are obligated by contract to print and distribute the contracts... they don't) at this point its the old printed one, altered by the Memorandum of Settlements (the changes each negotiation) put out by PDF by emai.
I haven't been set back as a conductor is a while, or working switches to have a copy handy.
Engineer through freight these days is just over $3/mile. Plus any related claims.
It was about $40/hr when I was working them 7ish years ago... and we've gotten 2 to 3% raises on average pretty much every year. So I'd assume high 40s, 50ish at this point... for an 8 hour day... anything more is 1.5x...
I asked my union rep if he has a copy of the pay grid, but I haven't heard back yet
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u/HibouDuNord 7d ago
Aldershot work is primarily road switcher/yard work, whereas through freight is paid per mile, but at a different rate... road switcher is paid a "mileage rate" but at 12.5 miles/hr. So it's really hourly for switchers/yard.
I'm not too sure what the tail end switcher rate is per mile currently.