A bad surprise awaits travelers who are thinking of taking the train to avoid airport chaos: service at VIA Rail could be seriously disrupted as of next Monday since approximately 2,400 of its union members represented by Unifor are raising the specter of a strike.
Posted at 5:51 p.m.
“There is no train that will be able to operate, say union representatives Alexandre Lamarre and Stéphane Isabel, during a telephone interview. It’s going to be a shock zone, especially with Air Canada canceling flights every day. »
As the summer season begins, most sectors of VIA Rail would be affected by a labor dispute since almost all of its union members would stop working. Unifor Local 100 represents 700 maintenance workers – mechanics, electricians, refrigeration mechanics – including 400 at the maintenance center in Montreal. The Council 4000 has 1700 members distributed in the stations, on board the trains as well as in the administrative offices, in particular.
According to Messrs. Lamarre and Isabel, the workers’ collective agreement expired on December 31st. Despite twenty or so negotiation and conciliation sessions, the employer has not tabled any monetary offer, the union alleges.
Unifor says the Crown corporation is asking for several concessions, including withdrawing from an agreement would result in the loss of job security for affected workers.
“It offers a laid-off employee about 80% of his salary, say union representatives. Before the pandemic, it cost the employer nothing. But that changed with the crisis because there were layoffs. Our members want it because this clause has saved families. »
Members of both units came out almost unanimously in favor of strike mandates. Voting ended on 1er last July. A few days before the deadline to avoid a strike, the talks are stalling, according to the union party.
Inflationary catch-up
Unifor has not quantified its wage demands, but is asking for increases that “take inflation into account”. In May, inflation stood at 7.7% according to Statistics Canada – the highest annual increase since January 1983.
VIA Rail would not say if a contingency plan was in place in the event of a labor dispute. By e-mail, the Crown corporation indicated that it wanted to remain focused “on the negotiation of a fair and reasonable employment contract”.
“VIA Rail remains committed to conducting these negotiations in good faith with the aim of concluding a new agreement before the deadline in order to avoid any interruption of service,” she said in a statement sent to The Press.
For travelers, a disruption in rail service would complicate travel as flight cancellations and delays mount at major airports across the country – and around the world.
Problems within the airline industry and at airports have prompted Air Canada to follow in the footsteps of other airlines. The largest airline in the country has been forced to cut more than 15% of its summer flights, or about 150 flights a day.
According to the firm DataWazo, Thursday afternoon, nearly 40% of domestic flights had not taken off at the scheduled time.
Nationally, Toronto Pearson airport was the most affected by delays (departures and arrivals) with 31% and 32% of flights delayed. On the Montreal-Trudeau side, a quarter of the flights had been delayed on departure. The proportion was similar on the arrivals side.
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- Across the country, VIA Rail, headquartered in Montreal, says it serves more than 400 communities.
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