The approximately 2,400 employees who work in VIA Rail stations, trains and offices have ratified the renewal of the collective agreements negotiated on July 12.

Collective agreements 1, 2 and 3 for members of Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 will be retroactive to January 1, 2022 and in effect until December 31, 2024, the employer said in a statement Tuesday. .

"We are delighted with the ratification of these mutually beneficial agreements which will provide stability for the next three years, as well as greater flexibility to actively pursue the resumption of our services," said VIA's Chief Employee Experience Officer. Rail, Martine Rivard.

The current agreements will allow employees to “catch up post-pandemic” with a 5.5% wage increase in 2022, a 3.5% increase in 2023 and a 2.5% increase in 2024, for an increase three-year average salary of 3.83%.

The new collective agreements also include "revisions to various work rules and closer collaboration on diversity and inclusion issues."

Recall that the 2,400 unionized employees had given themselves a strike mandate, at 99%, during meetings held between June 20 and July 1 across Canada. The strike was narrowly avoided thanks to the conclusion of a tentative agreement between the two parties on July 12.