Any hopes for a speedy end to the latest postal strike were dashed late Friday afternoon when Canada Post announced it has postponed plans to present its latest contract offer to its 55,000 workers.
Last week, Canada Post said it was sending a new offer to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) on Friday in an effort to get negotiations moving again.
But in an emailed statement, the Crown corporation said it will now be “reassessing” that offer and will present a “revised” version to workers when ready. Canada Post says its change of plans was prompted by the federal government’s announced reforms to the Crown coporation.
On Thursday, Ottawa called for Canada Post to end home delivery and close some rural mail outlets to stabilize its finances and ensure its survival. The Crown corporation is on track to lose $1.5 billion in 2025.
Negotiations for a new collective agreement have been ongoing for more than a year and a half.
Canada Post says it’s still committed to negotiating an agreement with CUPW, but that it must be “affordable, support our people and help build a sustainable future for the company.” It said it will present a revised offer as soon as possible.
In a statement Friday, CUPW pledged to fight Ottawa’s announced reforms, denouncing them as “a direct assault on our public post office,” and “good, unionized jobs.” It didn’t comment on the delayed contract offer except to say that Canada Post has told the union it will announce on Monday whether it will present a new offer later that week.
Can ending door-to-door mail delivery help solve Canada Post’s financial catastrophe? That’s part of the federal government’s proposed solution to curb daily losses in the millions of dollars, but the union has swiftly responded with a nationwide postal worker strike. Andrew Chang explains how Canada Post’s greatest strength may now be its greatest weakness — and how a viable path forward could unfold.
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Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu issued a statement Friday evening, urging both sides to keep talking.
“CUPW and Canada Post need to find the right balance that secures the future of the corporation and respects the workers who keep it running,” she said. “Canadians depend on them to get this right.”
Ongoing contract dispute
Earlier this month, the union said Canada Post’s latest offer of a 13 per cent pay increase fell short of its demand for 19 per cent.
While the union said it was willing to work with Canada Post to allow weekend delivery and the addition of part-time workers, it said the corporation walked away from the negotiating table.
Pressure is mounting to reach a deal as the crucial holiday season approaches.
A strike and lockout lasted more than a month in November and December last year, ending only after then labour minister Steven MacKinnon declared an impasse in the talks and asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order employees back to work.
