Canada Post Strike Talks Making Progress, But Still A Long Way to Go
Canada Post and the postal workers union found some common ground on Tuesday during talks with a special mediator, but there are still significant differences between them as a nationwide strike continues into its fifth day.
“We were able to make progress on smaller issues,” said Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton in a phone interview. “The special mediator has helped facilitate these discussions, so we will keep working towards collective agreements. We are dedicated to finding a resolution without arbitration.”
“There is still much work to be done.”
Amid the halt in deliveries, negotiations are ongoing between the Crown corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers for two separate contracts—one for rural and suburban mail carriers discussed on Monday, and the other for urban carriers focused on Tuesday.
The union noted that progress was made with the assistance of Ottawa’s top mediator, Peter Simpson. Simpson, the director general of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, spent the early part of the week shuttling between the parties’ conference rooms to discuss proposals and potential concessions.
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“After a year of discussions, the employer has finally started to address the urgent issues. Resolving these matters could lead to agreements,” said union president Jan Simpson in an update to members on Tuesday. “The urban unit will see if there is progress on their front.”
Approximately 55,000 employees represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers went on strike on Friday, disrupting operations and stopping deliveries during the busy holiday season.
The union is requesting a cumulative wage increase of 24 percent over four years, while Canada Post has proposed an 11.5 percent raise.
Other contentious issues include job security, benefits, and weekend contract work for parcel delivery.
Negotiations between Canada Post and its unionized workers began in November 2023.
In addition to wage increases to keep up with inflation, the union is seeking enhancements to short-term disability benefits and ten paid sick days per year. For rural and suburban mail carriers, the union is also pushing for company vehicles for carriers and paid meals and breaks.
Canada Post argues that its financial situation is already precarious, and the union’s demands would be financially unsustainable.
In the first half of 2024, Canada Post reported a loss of nearly half a billion dollars. The Crown corporation has incurred $3 billion in losses since 2018 due to a decline in letter mail and increased competition in the parcel market.
The union counters by suggesting that Canada Post reconsider executive bonuses and expand its services to address rising costs.
The most recent postal strike began in late October 2018, with rotating strikes lasting 31 days.
Previous postal strikes in 2011 and 2018 came to an end when the federal government intervened with legislation to force employees back to work.
