Canada Post, postal union reach tentative deals

Canada Post says it has reached “tentative short-term agreements” with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, narrowly avoiding a strike by CUPW members.

Canada Post has announced that it and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have once again agreed to extend mediation another 24 hours.

A statement from Mihychuk states agreements have been reached “voluntarily” but provides no details about them.

The two sides were in talks almost around the clock at the request of a special mediator appointed on Friday by Mihychuk. On pricing, CMA underlined that Canada Post must give customers reasonable notice of price increases so they can budget.

Postal workers can be forced back and severely disciplined for refusing overtime.

It said that reaching agreements “is especially important as Canadian businesses, large and small, are already planning for the upcoming holiday shipping season”.

The union, which had wanted one agreement for both its bargaining units, said in a statement that key bargaining points – like the protection of its defined contribution benefit plan for current and future members – had been secured. This means that Canadian families and businesses can continue to rely on the postal service to be there for them when they need it.

Under the agreements, reached late yesterday with the help of a special mediator, an independent body will study the pay equity issue that was at the core of the months-long labour dispute that had seen threatened job action.

“We can now turn towards the hearings that are going to be taking place in a few weeks and we’ll be articulating our vision for the future of Canada Post”, Palecek said.

“The issues facing the Corporation, with declining mail volumes and a growing pension obligation, are complex.” read a statement from the corporation.

Hamilton said he could not comment on specifics of the agreements, but he said: “Some things stay the same, such as the pension, as we look to what long-term solutions make sense”.

Tuesday’s letter was signed by 200 women primarily from English-speaking Canada, including actress Sarah Polley, author Naomi Klein and social activists Maude Barlow and Judy Rebick.