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Unifor Members Ratify Three-Year VIA Rail Contract with 3% Annual Raises

Under the deal, Canada’s passenger rail workers gain full pension matching, enhanced benefits, job safeguards, stable crew operations.

A Via Rail train is seen on tracks in Dorval, Que., as it heads out of Montreal on Friday, May 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Overview

  • Council 4000 and Local 100 members each voted to approve the contract on July 17, locking in the terms after a conciliation process and 21-day cooling-off period.
  • The contract provides full employer pension matching, expanded health coverage, front-loaded sick days with unused-day payout options.
  • New job-protection provisions prevent outsourcing and strengthen stability for spare-board and on-call staff, while crew scheduling procedures will be refined.
  • Unifor’s Council 4000 represents about 1,800 station, maintenance and onboard employees and Local 100 covers roughly 700 technical staff.
  • National President Lana Payne said the pact protects frontline roles, and Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier credited member solidarity for securing the agreement.