Canada Post is planning to present fresh proposals to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) to push forward negotiations. The Crown corporation announced that the new terms will pave the way for both parties to resume discussions next week, with preparations already underway for this purpose.
This development follows the union’s imposition of a ban on flyer deliveries by its 55,000 members from Monday onwards, alongside a call for Canada Post to return to the negotiating table. In response to the union’s rejection of its previous offer in early August, Canada Post stated that the union’s latest counter-proposal, introduced on August 20, introduces significant new expenses and constraints during a challenging period for the postal service.
Canada Post indicated that it had urged the union to propose a more feasible solution, but as that did not materialize, the corporation decided to introduce fresh comprehensive offers in the hope of finding common ground on crucial matters such as weekend delivery.
In an emailed statement to CBC News, a CUPW spokesperson expressed dissatisfaction with Canada Post’s approach post the rejection of the previous offers by postal workers, mentioning that the corporation had insisted on the acceptance of the same concessions that were previously declined. The union hopes that the new proposals align with the needs of postal workers and safeguard the public postal service for all Canadians. The bargaining committees will thoroughly review the offers before providing further input.
The ban on flyer delivery will persist as confirmed by the statement. With the upcoming holiday season approaching, the pressure to reach an agreement is mounting. Last year, a strike and lockout persisted over a month in November and December, ending only after a declaration of an impasse by then-labour minister Steven MacKinnon.
Jan Simpson, the president of CUPW, mentioned that the union transitioned from an overtime ban to the flyer ban to address Canada Post’s operational concerns. The aim is to finalize a deal before Christmas; however, if Canada Post continues to delay, postal workers may resort to more assertive measures to advance negotiations.
Canada Post has requested the union to deliver the flyers currently stuck in its network before talks resume, highlighting the impact of the flyer delivery ban on various customers including community newspapers, small businesses, and charities. The prolonged contract negotiations, ongoing for nearly two years, have revolved around issues such as wages and part-time workers amidst the postal service grappling with substantial financial losses.
