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On Friday, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) announced that more than 94 percent of its members voted in favor of a proposed strike at VIA Rail Canada Inc. The union set a strike deadline of midnight on June 27.

The CAW and railroad plan to resume negotiations June 21 in Montreal and continue bargaining until the strike deadline. The union represents more than 2,000 VIA Rail workers who perform on-train and clerical services, including maintenance and ticketing. A contract between the CAW and VIA Rail expired at 2009's end.

"The bargaining committee remains determined to reach a settlement without a dispute, but the corporation's concession demands must be stopped," said CAW President Ken Lewenza in a prepared statement.