VIA Rail Workers Issue Strike Mandate (UPDATED July 8)

VIA Rail bargaining committee group photo. (CNW Group/Unifor)

As negotiations continue in Montreal, members of Unifor, Canada’s largest union on the private sector and representing VIA Rail’s on-board service personnel, chefs, sales agents and customer staff, issued a strike mandate ahead of the July 11 strike deadline.

From June 20 to July 1, both Unifor Council 4000 and Unifor Local 100 conducted strike votes with VIA Rail members across Canada. The results for the final vote were 99.4% in favor of strike action at Local 100 and 99.3% in favor of strike action from Council 4000 members.

“The strike vote result sends a clear message to the employer: The membership supports the bargaining committee, is firm in their demands, and is prepared to take action if needed,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to Unifor‘s National President and lead negotiator. ”At this critical time, VIA Rail members deserve the best possible agreement, and that can only be won by working together, in solidarity.”

At the table, VIA Rail continued to push for concessions, including the removal of the Supplement Agreement for both Unifor Council 4000 and Unifor Local 100 members.“ The removal of the supplement agreement will result in the loss of job security,” the unions said. “The employer tabled language that would weaken the layoff section of the collective agreement.”

Unifor’s bargaining committees are in Montreal this week and said they are “committed to meet with VIA Rail right up to the 12:01 a.m. deadline.”

On June 7, the unions issued a 72-hour strike notice. If an agreement is not reached by the deadline, VIA Rail says it may be forced to suspend its services across its network, adding that it remains “committed to holding these negotiations in good faith in an effort to reach a new agreement without any disruption of service before the deadline.”

“VIA Rail has made every effort to reach an agreement with UNIFOR. We continue to talk with the union and remain committed to negotiating a fair and reasonable contract,” said Martin R Landry, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Unfortunately, if no agreement is reached, VIA Rail will be forced to suspend all services for the duration of the strike and until normal operations can safely resume. We recognize that this would be a major disruption for our passengers and for communities across the country. This potential work disruption comes at a time when we have resumed nearly all of our services. We deeply regret that it will negatively impact our efforts to support the recovery of Canada’s tourism industry and cut off the essential role we play in transporting Canadians, and connecting many remote communities including indigenous communities.”

Affected passengers may change their reservation at no cost (service charges will be waived during this time) or may opt for a full refund of unused tickets.