MONTREAL — Canada’s largest private-sector union has blasted VIA Rail Canada’s new baggage policy, a complex set of fees which were set to take effect Nov. 18, saying they “inconvenience travelers and complicate [union members’] working conditions.”
VIA, however, says it had elected to waive the fees a week prior to their implementation, and the Nov. 30 statement from the Unifor union came almost two weeks after that decision had been made.
The new baggage fees were to be introduced at the same time VIA introduced an updated booking system allowing online seat selection in the Quebec City-Windsor, Ontario, corridor [see “VIA Rail Canada to launch new website, adds baggage restrictions …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 8, 2023]. Baggage allowances varied on corridor, regional, and long-distance trains, with the number and size of bags charged $25 fees also varying by fare type, as also explained on this page of the VIA website. A note on that page indicates the fees have been waived “for a limited time” as the company gathers and assesses feedback from customers.
But on Nov. 30, the Unifor union, whose 315,000 members include VIA workers, said in a press release that the passenger operator had introduced “sweeping changes that are catching passengers and workers off-guard” entering the holiday travel season.
“Instead of making train travel more accessible VIA Rail’s new policy only complicates it,” Lana Payne, Unifor national president, said in the release. “It’s unfortunate to see passenger rail become more cumbersome at a time when ease and affordability in green public transportation is more important than ever.”
Comparing the fees to those charged by budget airlines, Unifor said students and economy-class passengers were particularly affected, with students no longer allowed a second free bag and economy travelers facing stricter baggage-size limits. Sleeping car and Prestige class passengers also face revised onboard and checked-baggage limits.
“These changes hit hard when people are already stretched thin and we’ve moved so far away from VIA Rail’s original mandate of providing an affordable service to Canadians,” said Jennifer Murray, Unifor Atlantic Regional director. “Our members are on the front lines, witnessing first-hand how such policies inconvenience travelers and complicate our working conditions.”
— Updated at 4:45 p.m. CST to correct that VIA waived fees before they could be implemented, as well as prior to union statement. Trains News Wire regrets the error.
