Via Rail is warning of service disruptions after receiving a strike notice from a union
representing more than 2,000 of its workers.
The passenger rail company, which operates as a Crown Corporation, said that its service
across Canada could be halted as early as Monday (July 11) should the strike action proceed.
Unifor has served Via Rail with a 72-hour strike notice after labour talks broke down in recent
days. The union said 99% of its workers, which include maintenance and service staff, voted in
favour of strike action.
The union said that the main issue in the labour talks is job security for its members.
A strike and service disruption would further hurt Canada's travel industry at a time of rampant
delays, cancellations, and long waits at airports and train and bus terminals.
Via Rail said in a news release that any passengers who are impacted by a service disruption
will be allowed to seek a full refund for unused tickets or make changes to reservations at no
additional cost.
