Teamsters Canada members ratify four-year contract with VIA Rail Canada

Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) have ratified a four-year contract with VIA Rail Canada (VIA). The TCRC represents some 350 employees working as locomotive engineers and yardmasters at VIA. The ratification follows an agreement in principle, which was reached last April 8. The contract was given a strong vote of support by union members, who voted close to 89 percent to accept it. The four-year agreement, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2011, includes wage increases of two percent, 2.5 percent, three percent and three percent, improvements to benefits and the introduction of a health care spending account to help offset benefit costs for retirees. "We feel that this contract is fair and that it balances the best interests of the company and our employees," said Marc Laliberté, VIA's president and chief executive officer. "Having this four-year agreement in place provides stability from a business and customer service perspective, and positions us well to tackle future challenges as a team."