Management with Canada Post is urging business owners and residents across Canada to be ready should a labour dispute disrupting service after two unions are in a legal strike position effective July 2. Talks between a conciliator, Canada Post management and the leaders with two unions representing the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have been ongoing since early April. (Keith Lacey photo)
After avoiding a work stoppage last month by entering into mediated negotiations, the Canada Post Corporation says progress has been slow while the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is telling its employees that “it’s time to intensify,” but the two parties still haven’t come close to reaching a tentative agreement.
“While we continue to talk, progress remains slow, but our resolve to reach tentative agreements without a work disruption has remained,” Serge Pitre, VP of sales at Canada Post.
In CUPW’s recently-published ‘Time to Intensify Bulletin,’ the union encourages its members to apply more pressure towards their campaign.
Without going into much detail last week, it said their message would be delivered on Aug. 6.
Later that same day, over 1,000 postal workers protested in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s home riding of Papineau, Que. and took the demonstration right up to his office, although he was in British Columbia on vacation at the time.
The bulletin goes on to say that after Aug. 6, “We cannot simply sit back and wait.”
It echoes Canada Post’s statement in saying little or no progress has been made at the negotiating table, and “definitely” no progress has been made on key issues.
With their ongoing demonstrations, CUPW is seemingly trying to persuade public opinion in their campaign and encourages its members to “be loud and be proud.”
“Every chance we get, we must continue to tell CPC to negotiate seriously,” it reads. “We will be loud and tell them that we are proud postal workers and that we demand and deserve fair negotiated collective agreements.”
On July 8, Canada Post and the CUPW agreed to a 30-day settlement period, though neither party has since mentioned the passing of the deadline.
DAN WALTON
Regional Reporter
