Rail

Arbitration ruling orders CN to reinvest in Transcona

Dear Members,

Unifor has won a major arbitration ruling ordering CN to reinvest and reopen the Transcona Wheel Shop, compensate affected workers and return the bargaining unit work after it was outsourced to the United States- a serious violation of the collective agreement. 

WINNIPEG – Unifor has won a major arbitration ruling ordering CN to reinvest in the Transcona Wheel Shop, compensate affected workers and return rail work to in-house production in Canada after violating the collective agreement. 

Unifor Local 100 commenced collective bargaining with Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) on October 17, 2025, and continued discussions with the employer during the week of December 8, 2025, focusing on non-monetary proposals.

Unifor represents approximately 20 members at HBR in The Pas, Manitoba, who provide mechanical services for both freight cars and locomotives.

Unifor and Public Rail Now commit to advancing public, reliable, and worker-centred rail systems across North America

Unifor’s National Rail Council and Public Rail Now (PRN) are pleased to announce the beginning of a collaborative effort to strengthen and expand public rail systems in Canada and the United States. 

Unifor’s National Rail Council is launching a new collaboration with Public Rail Now (PRN), a U.S.-based advocacy group working to advance publicly owned and accountable rail systems. 

MONTREAL – Members of Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 have ratified a new collective agreement with VIA Rail.

“This agreement delivers meaningful gains for our members at VIA Rail and protects the critical work they do serving passengers across Canada,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We fought hard to secure improvements that matter to our members and to protect good jobs for the future.”

Agreement Ratified with VIA Rail

Dear Members,

Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 are pleased to announce that members have voted to ratify a new collective agreement with VIA Rail. 

This agreement, reached after a challenging round of bargaining, represents meaningful progress on wages, benefits, pensions, and job security for more than 2,000 Unifor members across Canada.

MONTREAL— Contract talks between Unifor and VIA Rail have broken off, setting the stage for a national rail dispute that threatens to disrupt passenger travel across the country later this month.

“We didn’t come to the table looking for a dispute—we came to get a deal,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “But VIA Rail’s refusal to take our demands seriously has left us with no other choice. If they’re not willing to fix what’s broken, they’re forcing this dispute onto workers and passengers alike.”

No tentative agreement reached with VIA Rail

Dear members,

Council 4000 and Local 100 wrapped up negotiations with VIA Rail this week in Montreal, but despite the bargaining committees working late into the evenings, no tentative agreement was reached.