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VIA RAIL BARGAINING UPDATE #4
Dear members,
Unifor opened bargaining with VIA Rail in January 2022. To date Unifor Local 100 and Council 4000 has met with the company February 7 to 11 and March 8-11.
On March 9, federal transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced that the government is seeking private proposals to cover service for the VIA rail high-frequency corridor. The union believes this is the first of many steps to privatize VIA Rail.
Despite being blindsided by the announcement, your bargaining committees continued to meet and bargain in good faith.
In our last update we reported that the employer has tabled concessions and that this round of bargaining would not be easy. The employer refuses to remove their proposed concessions that will effect all three agreements, meanwhile maintains the position to not discuss key council demands.
Concessions of this nature are not acceptable and the employer must realize we will fight tooth and nail for our members.
Our next session with the company will be April 4–8 and we can update you again the week following.
Until the next update, please continue to promote the re-investment campaign and encourage members to sign up to receive Rail Line. Previous issues of Rail Line are available online.
This newsletter and unifor.org/viabargaining are your best source for up-to-date information.
The union does not bargain in public, but we will use these tools to update you as often as possible. We would ask all members to not listen to the Employer for updates, or entertain rumours that may come up during the bargaining process.
We would like to thank the membership for their continuing show of support.
Please reach out to your local union representatives for additional information or with questions. Your continued support will be pivotal in achieving the next collective agreement.
In solidarity,
Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to Unifor National President
Local 100 and Council 4000 Bargaining Committees
