(Bloomberg News distributed the following article on July 12.)
TORONTO — Via Rail Canada Inc.’s 3,000 workers may strike this month if a contract dispute with the country’s government-owned passenger rail service isn’t resolved, the Toronto Star reported, citing union officials.
Workers will vote on whether to accept a contract proposal by July 20, and the union must give Via 72 hours’ notice before striking.
The workers, represented by the Canadian Auto Workers union, want a 3 percent pay raise in each of the next three years. Via is offering a 2 percent increase, the Star said, and won’t increase hiring, allow sick leave or enhance pensions.
A union official told the Star that a strike would be timed to hurt Via during July and August, when demand for train travel is highest. Via Rail workers walked off the job in 1995 and were ordered back to work by the government.