Canadian Pacific Files for Assistance of Federal Conciliator in Negotiations with TCRC

Legacy Pension issues must be addressed in new contract

CALGARY, Feb. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - Citing business imperatives as the reason to address the railway's legacy pension, Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) today requested the Federal Minister of Labour appoint a conciliator to assist in progressing discussions on a new labour agreement with the union which represents the company's Canadian train crew employees and rail traffic controllers.

"The legacy pension costs significantly impact CP's operating ratio and our ability to further fund investments that will support growth opportunities for our customers," said Canadian Pacific President & CEO Fred Green. "We've made changes to the management pension plan.  The time to address this within our collective agreements is now."

"These are difficult and complex issues for both parties. CP believes that expert, third-party support, with a focused time table, will offer the best opportunity to achieve a settlement."

CP is seeking to achieve changes to legacy pension and post-retirement benefits to make them industry-comparable.  CP has contributed $1.9 billion of solvency deficit contributions to its pension plan over the past three years.

"We have a number of proposed options for pension plan modifications, some of which align with the industry, all of which are fair to employees, and none of which have any impact on existing pensioners," added Green.

Among the range of proposed amendments, some of the options provide guaranteed pension payment that is a multiple of average Canadian industrial pension payment and is comparable to what this union has already agreed to for the majority of its members at another major Canadian railway.

The company noted that its existing contract with the union, which represents 4,800 engineers, conductors and rail traffic controllers, expired on December 31, 2011. CP has been in negotiations since early October 2011 with the union on a number of topics ranging from wages to work rule changes and pensions, all intended to further drive service, productivity, and efficiency.  No unions, including this one, are in a legal strike position.

The average conciliation process can last between 80 and 90 days.

Note on forward-looking information
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements relating but not limited to our operations, proposed investments, anticipated financial performance and business prospects.  Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may differ materially.

By its nature, CP's forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.  Factors that could affect forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: changes in business strategies; general North American and global economic, credit and business conditions; ; inflation; currency and interest rate fluctuations; the availability and price of energy commodities; the effects of competition and pricing pressures; industry capacity; shifts in market demand; changes in laws and regulations, including regulation of rates; changes in taxes and tax rates; actions by regulators; potential increases in maintenance and operating costs; uncertainties of litigation; risks and liabilities arising from derailments; timing of completion of capital and maintenance projects; currency and interest rate fluctuations; technological changes; and various events that could disrupt operations, including severe weather conditions, flooding, earthquakes, labour disputes, risks and liabilities arising from derailments as well as security threats and governmental response to them.  Other risks are detailed from time to time in reports filed by CP with securities regulators in Canada and the United States.  Reference should be made to "Management's Discussion and Analysis" in CP's annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form and Form 40-F for a summary of major risks.

Except as required by law, CP undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) operates a North American transcontinental railway providing freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Incorporating best-in-class technology and environmental practices, CP is re-defining itself as a modern 21st century transportation company built on safety, service reliability and operational efficiency. Visit cpr.ca and see how Canadian Pacific is Driving the Digital Railway.

 

Media              
Ed Greenberg
Tel:[phone]
24/7 Media Pager: 855-242-3674
[email protected] 

Investment Community
Janet Weiss
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]