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Postal strike looms large as Canada Post and union continue negotiating

Canadian Union of Postal Workers in a legal strike position as of Sunday if no deal is reached, but Canada Post says no strike notice given yet
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The Canadian Union of Postal Workers would be in a legal strike position as of Sunday if no deal is reached between the union and Canada Post. Black Press file photo

Mail delivery may not be happening after this coming weekend if the union representing the country postal workers decides to walk off the job.

There is the threat of a strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) if no agreement is reached. CUPW's members from the Urban Operations unit and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers each voted 95 per cent in favour of giving the union a strike mandate. Those votes took place between Sept. 9 and Oct. 20 and the union indicated it would be in a legal strike position as of Sunday.

The union stated that it's been trying to hammer out a new deal with Canada Post for nearly a year.

The latest offer from Canada Post was given to the union on Oct. 28 and, according to the employer, included pay raises totalling 11.5 per cent over four years and protecting the defined benefit pension for current employees, as well as their job security and health benefits. The company also promised improved leave entitlements for current employees and transitioning to an hourly rate of pay for rural and suburban carriers.  

The company also stated that it wants to take several items to arbitration, though it didn't state which items those were and they weren't indicated when Canada Post responded to questions from NNSL Media on the current situation involving negotiations.

Spokesperson Valerie Chartrand said no strike notice from the union had been given as of Friday afternoon and both parties were still trying to hammer out a deal.

"We are operating as normal," she said.

Chartrand also didn't comment what would happen with deliveries of essential items or those who receive government assistance cheques in the event of a work stoppage.

Under the Canada Labour Code, the union must give the employer no less than 72 hours notice if it intends to go out on strike.

Canada Post also stated its precarious financial position, which it outlined in its own release on Oct. 28. It stated that the company "... continues to grapple with the significant financial and operational challenges of delivering in today’s highly competitive parcel delivery market. In the first six months of 2024, Canada Post recorded a loss from operations of $490 million."

Canada Post states it has lost more than $3 billion since 2018.

In response to that, Jan Simpson, CUPW's national president, stated that the union recognized the challenges Canada Post was facing.

"Our goal is not to simply make demands, but to work together toward solutions that support the long-term success of our public post office while addressing the real struggles our members face daily," she stated.

NNSL Media also reached out to the union for comment on the current situation, but they have not yet responded.

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About the Author: James McCarthy

I'm the managing editor with NNSL Media and have been so since 2022.
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