The Teamsters and Via Rail came to an agreement early this morning after meeting with a federally appointed mediator. Locomotive engineers agreed to settle their differences through binding arbitration, ending a two-day walkout. The engineers have been without a contract for 2½ years and have been pressing for improved training, work schedules and benefits.

Trains will roll out of Union Station later this afternoon! (around 6pm)

An ultimatum of sorts has been cast. Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, has said, “we must have a settlement by midnight on Sunday or we are finished”. No resolution by then and he will walk away from the negotiation table and head to the picket line.

The municipal workers began to strike June 22. Only 6,000 of the city’s 30,000 workers continue to provide essential services. The work stoppage continues to affect city-run daycares, parks, pools, and yes, garbage collection.

Hoping that some progress can be made soon. We should try to head the lessons learned from Windsor’s recently resolved 100 day strike.