MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada and Canadian union Unifor have reached tentative agreement on a new three-year contract, averting a strike that could have begun as soon as this Sunday, June 22.
If ratified, the agreement will be retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year and run through Dec. 31, 2027. VIA said terms would only be disclosed following ratification.
“We are pleased to have reached these tentative agreements with Unifor,” VIA CEO Mario Péloquin said in a statement today (June 20, 2025). “From the outset, VIA Rail’s management engaged in this round of negotiations in good faith, with the clear objective of reaching a fair and equitable solution that would safeguard the continued delivery of excellent service to all Canadians. This important step reflects the commitment and perseverance of both parties throughout the negotiation process.”
Unifor’s Council 4000 and Local 100 represent approximately 2,400 workers at stations, onboard trains, and at maintenance facilities. Union members voted in favor of a strike last month [see “Unifor members authorize strike …,” Trains News Wire, May 27, 2025].
