Railroaders place to shoot the shit.

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TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian Auto Workers union said it has reached a new three-year tentative agreement with VIA Rail, after a difficult and challenging round of negotiations.

The agreement between the union and the government-owned railway that carries about 11,000 passengers daily, will avert a strike that was set to begin just before midnight on Sunday.

The CAW said late on Saturday that the tentative pact enjoys the full support of the union's bargaining committee and its details will be released upon ratification.

The CAW, which is VIA Rail's largest union, representing 2,200 workers in customer service, on-board service and maintenance, said voting for ratification would take place over the next two weeks across the country.

(Reporting by Euan Rocha, editing by Maureen Bavdek)