VIA Rail, Unifor Ratify Agreements
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive EditorVIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) has ratified collective agreements with Unifor Council 4000, the union representing more than 1,600 employees in stations, on board trains, in call centers and in administrative offices.
The two-year agreements, which run from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2021, include a 2% wage increase for 2021, benefits improvements, and the review of several work rules for Unifor 1 (off-train) and Unifor 2 (on board train) employees. Tentative agreements were reached in January.
According to VIA Rail, the CSN filed a petition in February “for union certification concerning VIA Rail employees in maintenance centers represented by Unifor 3, which the Canada Industrial Relations Board is currently reviewing. As a result, ratification for the agreement with Unifor 3 has been postponed until further notice.”
“Our employees are key contributors to VIA Rail’s success, without whom the fulfillment of our mission to put our passengers first would not be possible,” Chief Employee Experience Officer Martine Rivard said. “I would like to thank Unifor’s representatives and National President Jerry Dias, as well as the negotiating teams and conciliator. The determination and professionalism of everyone involved led to fair and reasonable agreements despite the unique challenges faced over the last year.”
