Director Labor Relations

Canadian National Railway (CN)•Homewood, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The incumbent is responsible for overseeing all aspects of labor relations in the United States, with additional responsibility for a portion of labor relations in Canada. The role consists of collective bargaining, collective agreement applications and interpretations, and development of strategic initiatives impacting employees while ensuring consistency within and across borders. The incumbent is a strategic advisor to senior leaders on complex business issues. The Director creates a cohesive vision and global approach to keep CN’s labor relations liabilities to a minimum.

Requirements

15 years of labour relations experience
Collective bargaining with specific experience as spokesperson
Demonstrated experience with collective agreements including creation, application and interpretation
Experience managing employees
Railway industry experience
Human Resources Management
Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Human Resources, Labour Relations, or equivalent
Knowledge of CN’s Labour Relations policies and procedures
Knowledge of the US Railway Labor Act and the National Labor Relations Act
Knowledge of Canadian legislation such as the Canada Labour Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act
Ability to research legislation and jurisprudence
Critical thinking and organized
Ability to be a strategic advisor to different levels of internal leaders

Nice To Haves

Fluently bilingual both written and verbal (English, French)

Responsibilities

Participates in Section 6 National Bargaining on behalf of CN under the Railway Labor Act
Meet with key internal stakeholders within various business units to review collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) before they become amendable
Research past agreements, arbitration awards, and Public Law Board decisions to develop persuasive bargaining positions
Act as CNs lead at the collective bargaining table and present arguments that drive commitment to favorable CBAs for CN business units
Lead collective bargaining in Canada as the chief spokesperson
Work with Vice-Presidents on CBA impediments and risk evaluations pertaining to their groups
Ensure CN’s vision is consistently applied so that CBAs are beneficial for both labor organizations and CN and customer disruptions are minimized
Provide strategic advice on CBA terms, coordinate with national multi-employer bargaining efforts (e.g., National Carriers’ Conference Committee) where applicable, and plan for upcoming amendable dates
Ensure cohesiveness of CBAs between various groups so that all negative impacts to CN are avoided (work stoppages, disputes, self-help actions, etc.), leveraging the RLA’s status quo and cooling-off provisions
Evaluate complex grievances that require quick resolution through keen interpretation of CBA provisions and past practice
Engage with labor organization representatives to understand the foundations and facts of disputes, distinguishing between minor disputes (grievances) and major disputes under the RLA
Oversee the preparation and presentation of cases before the National Railroad Adjustment Board, Public Law Boards, and special boards of adjustment
Manage interactions with the National Mediation Board (NMB) for mediation of bargaining impasses and potential arbitration proceedings