Postal talks continue while workers maintain overtime ban and expired contracts raise strike risk
Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) are set to resume negotiations following the expiry of their collective agreements, as a national overtime ban remains in effect and potential strike action looms.
CUPW confirmed on Sunday that its negotiators had “worked hard to carefully evaluate” the latest contract proposals and prepare responses for meetings with the employer and mediators, according to CityNews Edmonton.
Union president Jan Simpson stated that the union learned at 12:50 pm Eastern that Canada Post had left the premises to review CUPW’s documents and may take a few days to respond.
“We would hope the corporation is back to us as soon as possible. Although talks continue, the nationwide overtime ban remains in effect,” Simpson wrote.
Canada Post confirmed to CBC News that it had received the union’s responses and would “review them in detail.”
A spokesperson for the Crown corporation previously indicated the parties were expected to meet with a mediator during the weekend, but also said, "We have not yet heard from CUPW about joining us at the table with the mediator this weekend," according to Lisa Liu.
The Crown corporation presented new offers to CUPW on Wednesday.
Canada Post’s latest offer includes a four-year pay increase of six percent in the first year, followed by three percent, two percent, and two percent in subsequent years.
The offer also proposes changes to its part-time employment system and the addition of a fleet of part-time workers.
The compounded wage increase would total 13.59 percent over four years, Canada Post said.
CUPW, however, had requested a two-week “truce” to consider the 700-page contract offer. The union said the request was denied, leaving it with only a day to review the material.
“Instead, CUPW was given just a day to rush through the content of the offers, wholly inadequate to be able to carefully consider the detailed, legal wording of the 700-page offers,” the union told Global News.
“If instability hangs over these negotiations, it’s due to Canada Post’s uncompromising stance and time management,” CUPW said in a statement.
The union issued a 72-hour strike notice on Monday after the expiration of its contract on Thursday.
However, rather than initiating a walkout, CUPW implemented a national ban on overtime starting midnight Friday.
Canada Post stated the overtime ban could cause delays.
Under the overtime ban, letter carriers are instructed to return to their depot and drop off their mail regardless of whether their route is complete.
Rural and suburban mail carriers are following the same approach.
Part-time and temporary workers are permitted to extend their hours to a maximum of eight per day and 40 per week, the union said.
The two parties last met on Thursday for less than 30 minutes, with CUPW raising only a small number of outstanding issues informally, according to Canada Post.
The company said it remains ready to receive a response to its “global offers.”
As negotiations continue, core disputes remain unresolved, including wages, use of temporary workers, weekend delivery, benefits, pensions, and financial reform at Canada Post.
An Industrial Inquiry Commission, formed by the federal government, found the postal service effectively “bankrupt” and suggested structural changes earlier this month.
Recommendations included phasing out daily door-to-door delivery and implementing a “dynamic routing” system that could alter routes daily.
