(Montreal) Some 2,400 VIA Rail workers will get an average salary increase of 3.83% per year over three years, after the ratification of new collective agreements.
Posted at 3:30 p.m.
The rail carrier and the Unifor union announced on Tuesday that unionized employees had approved the tentative agreement reached earlier in July that averted a strike.
Workers will be eligible for wage increases of 5.5% in 2022, 3.5% in 2023 and 2.5% in 2024. In addition to these increases, members of the skilled trades will receive wage adjustments this year and next year, Unifor said in a statement.
VIA Rail also mentions that the new employment contracts “include revisions to various work rules and closer collaboration on diversity and inclusion issues”.
We are delighted with the ratification of these mutually beneficial agreements which will ensure stability for the next three years, as well as greater flexibility to actively pursue the resumption of our services and advance VIA Rail’s important modernization projects.
Martine Rivard, Chief Employee Experience Officer, VIA Rail
“Our members have given us a clear mandate: to improve wages and benefits, in addition to strengthening the provisions of our collective agreements. I am proud that our bargaining committees have stayed the course and accomplished the mandate given by our members,” said Unifor National Council 4000 President Dave Kissack.
The approximately 2,400 union members work in maintenance, as on-board service personnel, chefs, sales agents or as VIA Rail customer service personnel.