OTTAWA, (Mar. 24, 2005) — Federal Minister of Labour Joe Fontana has appointed two mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to assist in negotiations aimed at averting a strike by almost 800 CN Rail workers this weekend.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers gave notice yesterday that it intends to take strike action at midnight on March 25, 2005 a deal with the railway is not reached. The collective agreement between CN and the 740 workers — who install, maintain and repair CN’s signals and communications systems — expired on December 31, 2003.

The union Mediators Paul Macdonell and Réjean Bercier are meeting with representatives of the employer and the union today.

“This is a critical opportunity for the parties to resolve the issues in dispute with the assistance of experienced mediators. I am hopeful that with a willingness to be flexible and much hard work, the parties will be able to reach a settlement without a work stoppage,” said Minister Fontana in a press release.

Yesterday CN announced it will maintain normal rail operations if the signal and communications workers go on strike.