Via Rail strike could begin as soon as Monday, company warns
Passengers who absolutely need to travel next week urged to consider alternate arrangements
Via Rail passengers across Canada have received warnings that their travel plans for next week could be interrupted by a strike at the rail company.
Anyone who absolutely needs to travel on Monday and in the following days is being urged to make alternate arrangements.
Unifor, which represents some 1,800 Via Rail employees, intends to strike as of 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June, 13, Via Rail said in a message to ticket holders.
“In the event of a strike, all services across the VIA Rail network will be interrupted,” the message said.
The union said 96 per cent of its membership voted in favour of the strike action at the beginning of the month.
Unifor’s website said the negotiations will continue until the deadline with the goal of reaching a “fair and reasonable deal.”
A government conciliator is involved in the negotiations between the two sides.
The station attendants, sales office and administrative staff and maintenance workers represented by the union have been without a new collective agreement since Dec. 31, 2015.
Anyone affected by a potential cancellation will be able to exchange their ticket for a future date or get a refund, Via Rail said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/via-rail-strike-1.3628788?cmp=rss