Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) reached tentative agreements late Tuesday that could end the long-simmering labour dispute that threatened postal service.
News of the agreements came shortly after the print edition of the Osoyoos Times went to press with a story describing the precarious situation as CUPW threatened to prevent its members from working overtime on a rotating basis between the provinces and territories to put pressure on Canada Post.
“We can’t give details of the agreements at this time,” said Mike Palecek, CUPW president in a news release. “But we’re pleased that our members don’t have to resort to taking job action.”
The agreements must be ratified by 50,000 postal workers across Canada before they become the new contracts.
Canada Post described the agreements as short-term, two-year agreements rather than the typical four-year contracts negotiated in the past.
“The agreements will avert a work disruption, bringing much-needed certainty in the postal system for our employees and customers,” Canada Post said in a news release.
MaryAnn Mihychuk, federal minister of employment, workforce development and labour, said in a statement that the agreements were reached voluntarily by both parties.
Mihychuk brought the leaders of CUPW and Canada Post together face-to-face for the first time on Aug. 19 and last Friday she appointed William Kaplan as a special mediator.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Osoyoos Times
