Agreement in principle between VIA Rail and Unifor in Canada; strike avoided
Posted June 20, 2025 10:43 am.
An agreement in principle has just been reached between VIA Rail and the Unifor union, which represents 2,400 workers across the country.
The large national union had a strike mandate and was going to be able to exercise it starting June 22. This could have disrupted passenger rail services across the country.
Unifor, which is affiliated with the FTQ in Quebec, states that “this agreement in principle provides for gains in wages, job security and working conditions.” It has not yet revealed the details, preferring to keep the scoop for its members, as is usually the case in such circumstances.
Meetings to allow members to vote on this agreement will take place in the coming weeks, Unifor announced on Friday.
Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 represent employees who work in VIA Rail stations, on its trains, in its maintenance centres, at the Customer Centre and in its administrative offices.
The dispute included a scheduling system known as “on-board service reserve boards,” which meant employees had too few hours to earn enough income, Unifor explained when negotiations were underway.
During these negotiations, VIA Rail said it was “determined to negotiate a fair and reasonable agreement, while remaining competitive” and providing quality service.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
