Canada Post strike enters new week as talks continue with special mediator
The impasse highlights critical issues surrounding modernization, staffing flexibility, and compensation, as both sides grapple with demands shaped by a rapidly evolving delivery landscape.
Canada Post Strike Enters Day 11 as Negotiations Continue
The Canada Post strike has stretched into its 11th day, with negotiations between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and the Crown corporation yielding limited progress, despite the involvement of a special mediator over the weekend.
Canada Post has proposed an 11.5% wage increase over four years and additional paid leave, while CUPW is pushing for a 24% wage hike over the same period. The union is also advocating for full-time employees to handle package deliveries on weekends, whereas Canada Post proposes hiring more part-time staff to meet this demand.
In a statement, Canada Post criticized the union's focus on non-represented workers, such as contracted cleaning staff, whom CUPW seeks to bring in-house as full-time employees. The Crown corporation added that CUPW opposes adjustments to pay and benefits for future hires.
“We’ve been trying to move forward with urgency on changes to our delivery model that would provide weekend delivery and more flexible staffing during the week,” Canada Post said.
Impact of the Strike
Since the work stoppage began on November 15, over 55,000 workers across Canada have walked off the job. Canada Post noted that customers have increasingly turned to competitors for delivery services, and CUPW acknowledged that some mail and parcels remain undelivered, with certain post offices shuttered during the strike.
The impasse highlights critical issues surrounding modernization, staffing flexibility, and compensation, as both sides grapple with demands shaped by a rapidly evolving delivery landscape.
