VIA Rail plans to offer basic rail services in case of work stoppage - Talks are being pursued with the CAW union

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Jun 10, 2013, 18:17 ET

MONTREAL, June 10, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - VIA Rail Canada is currently in negotiations with the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union. Today, the Corporation released its contingency plan in the event of a work stoppage. VIA Rail is determined to reach new collective agreements with its employees represented by CAW before the deadline of June 14^th 12:01 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time.

More information about VIA Rail's contingency plan can be found on VIA Rail's website at viarail.ca/en/collective-bargaining or by contacting 1 888 VIA-RAIL (842-7245), 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired). In the event of a work stoppage, VIA Rail will continue to offer basic rail services, using qualified management employees. The plan provides for daily morning and end-of-day departures in the Québec City - Windsor corridor, and once-a-week service on Long-distance and remote service trains (with the exception of trains between Sudbury and White River, that will operate according to its normal schedule).

"VIA Rail remains committed to negotiating a fair agreement with the Canadian Auto Workers, in a bid to avoid any disruption to the travel plans of its customers," said Marc Laliberté, the President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail Canada. "At the same time we want to confirm that a basic service plan is ready to be put in place on all our routes, including remote areas of the country, to ensure that Canadians can continue to travel by train, should there be a work stoppage."

VIA Rail and the CAW (which represents service, sales office and maintenance personnel), have been in negotiations since the fall of 2012. VIA Rail remains optimistic that an agreement will be reached between the parties. Parties have been in conciliation since April and are now currently in mediation.

During these negotiations, VIA Rail is keeping passengers and the public informed of any development through its website at viarail.ca, on Facebook orTwitter @VIA_rail.

About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking 450 communities across its 12,500-kilometre route network. Recipient of the Railway Association of Canada's Safety Award in 2011 for the 11^th time in 12 years, and of the 2012 Agent's Choice Award voted by Canadian travel agents and presented by Baxter Travel Media, VIA safely transports nearly four million passengers annually. Since 2007, the Government of Canada has invested almost a billion dollars in VIA Rail. Follow the progress of our transformation at http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/capital-investment.

SOURCE: VIA Rail Canada Inc.