Via Rail strike possible for late June. Here's what it could mean
Approximately 2,500 Via Rail workers represented by Unifor have voted overwhelmingly (97.5 per cent) in favour of a strike mandate. This group includes staff in administration, customer service, on-board service, maintenance, call centres, mechanics, and other skilled trades.
Negotiations between Via Rail and Unifor are ongoing, with conciliation talks scheduled to last until May 31. After that, there will be a federally mandated 21-day 'cooling-off' period. The earliest date a legal strike or lockout could occur is June 22.
A strike is not imminent at the moment. The union is not obligated to strike upon being legally able to do so. Negotiations could continue, and an agreement could be reached before any job action is taken. The strike mandate simply gives the union the authority to call a strike if negotiations fail.
Meanwhile, Via Rail is operating normally, with no disruptions reported as of May 26.
Recent railway labour disputes involving freight railways (such as Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City) have caused service disruptions on some routes that Via Rail uses, particularly in Northern Ontario, but Via Rail has been able to maintain most of its intercity operations.
The length of a potential Via Rail strike before service resumes would depend on how quickly Via Rail and the union can reach a new agreement. Historically, Canadian rail strikes have varied in duration — from as short as a few days to several weeks — depending on the complexity of negotiations and whether government intervention occurs. For example, a Canadian Pacific rail strike in 2022 lasted about 60 hours before a tentative deal was reached.
If a strike did occur on or after June 22, there could be significant disruptions to Via Rail services, especially if no agreement is reached by then.
All services could be suspended for the entire duration of the strike, and normal operations would resume only once a settlement is reached and it is safe to do so. A strike could last days, weeks, or longer if negotiations stall and no back-to-work legislation is introduced.
So, a Via Rail strike could significantly impact an upcoming trip, depending on the timing and the route you plan to take.
Via Rail does not provide alternate transportation if your train is cancelled.
However, affected customers will be able to modify their reservations or obtain a full refund if their train is cancelled due to a strike. Via typically contacts affected passengers directly if a work stoppage is confirmed and provides information about refunds and changes.
Passengers are advised to check their email or Via Rail's Train-Alert service for the latest updates. For any questions or if you need to modify your reservation, contact Via Rail directly at 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245).
Via Rail ridership still well below pre-pandemic levels as losses mount and trains face retirement
More travel chaos: Via Rail receives strike notice, warns service may be suspended
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