Canada Post: No agreement so far as work stoppage deadline nears
“Canada Post has notified the union that unless new agreements are reached, the current collective agreements will no longer apply as of Friday,” Lisa Liu, a Canada Post spokesperson told Global News on Tuesday.
Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) are facing a critical deadline to reach a new agreement and avoid a potential work stoppage.
Canada Post has issued a lockout notice to CUPW, which has responded with strike notices for both its urban operations and rural and suburban mail carrier (RSMC) units. Despite the notice, Canada Post intends to keep operating.
“Canada Post has informed the union that unless new agreements are reached, the current collective agreements will no longer apply as of Friday,” said Lisa Liu, a Canada Post spokesperson, in a statement. The notice was filed with the union and the labour minister to allow changes to operations starting Friday, if necessary.
The union will be legally able to begin strike action as of 12:01 a.m. on Friday, although the exact nature of the job action remains unclear. In issuing its 72-hour strike notices, CUPW did not confirm whether workers would go on strike.
The two parties have been negotiating for nearly a year in an effort to finalize collective agreements. Canada Post has warned that the potential job action could disrupt services for millions of Canadians and businesses that depend on the postal system.
As the possibility of a work stoppage looms, other courier companies are preparing for an increase in deliveries and developing contingency plans.
The situation has raised concerns among retailers, especially small businesses, as the busy holiday season approaches. “This is one of the main suppliers for parcel delivery for retail, and it couldn’t come at the worst time during the holiday season,” said Matt Poirier, vice-president of federal government relations for the Retail Council of Canada.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) expressed disappointment over the potential disruption and urged both parties to come to an agreement. “Small firms depend on a reliable postal service, and they need mail and parcel delivery service provided by Canada Post to remain fully operational,” said Corinne Pohlmann, executive vice-president of advocacy at CFIB.
If a work stoppage occurs, it will not be the first for Canada Post, which last experienced rotating strikes in 2008 and 2011.
