VIA Rail to lay off 30 management employees

Rail News Home Labor 8/3/2020 Rail News: Labor
The railroad will lay off 30 management and other professional employees due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.Photo – VIA Rail Canada Inc.

VIA Rail Canada Inc. last week announced on Aug. 14 it will temporarily lay off 30 management and other professional employees due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The layoffs are in addition to retirements and vacant positions that will not be filled. In total, 80 VIA Rail positions will be affected.

Last month, the passenger railroad also temporarily laid off 1,000 unionized employees.

"VIA Rail is not immune to the current reality. As with all passenger carriers, the pandemic continues to have a major impact on our operations with ridership not showing any significant recovery at the national level,” VIA Rail President and Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Garneau said in a press release. “We are making difficult decisions to lessen the financial impact and safeguard the funds we have been allocated.”

Despite VIA Rail having recently recorded a slight increase in ridership, several routes remain suspended, agency officials said.