As a possible strike by Canada Post workers looms, the Crown corporation says it is “operating as normal” while negotiations with the union continue.
If a strike goes ahead, at least one opposition party has said it will not support back-to-work legislation.
Postal workers will legally be on strike starting Sunday, but the Canada Labor Code requires 72 hours’ notice before employees can leave work.
“Both sides remain at the table and we have not received any strike notification from the union,” said Canada Post spokesperson Valérie Chartrand.
“If we receive a strike notice, we will notify customers and the public of our plans regarding service,” he told Global News in a statement on Friday.
On Tuesday, Canada Post presented new offers to the Canadian Postal Workers Union, including higher annual wage increases amounting to 11.5 per cent over four years and worker pension protections.
CUPW national president Jan Simpson told Global News on Thursday that the union is reviewing that offer and will respond to Canada Post.
“We are still at the negotiating table in hopes that we can reach a negotiated collective bargaining agreement for both urban operations and suburban rural letter carriers,” he said.
A cooling off period in labor negotiations will expire on Saturday, after which postal workers will be legally able to strike.
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The dispute comes ahead of the busy holiday season, and Canada Post warned that a work stoppage would have “significant consequences” for millions of Canadians.
The federal government has urged both sides to reach a collective agreement and is working to facilitate that outcome.
Labor Minister Steve MacKinnon met with Canada Post and CUPW on Thursday.
He told reporters on Wednesday: “We are obviously active in trying to facilitate a collective agreement and we want the two sides to reach an agreement and for that agreement to be ratified.”
MacKinnon did not say whether the federal government would intervene.
If a strike goes ahead, it is unclear whether the minority Liberal government will be able to impose back-to-work legislation as it did with the railway closure in August.
The New Democratic Party, for example, will not support it.
“There is no scenario in which we would support return to work legislation.” said Matthew Green, NDP labor critic.
“It is up to the Minister of Labor not to use the threat of legislating Canada Post back to work to basically free management from negotiating a fair deal with these workers,” Green said in an interview with Global News on Friday.
He said that it is necessary to explore all options and that the “best agreements” are reached at the negotiating table.
“Any time you think that management can simply rely on a weak Liberal government to intervene on their behalf, you completely undermine the working class in Canada.”
Global News has also reached out to the Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois and Green Party for their positions on back-to-work legislation in the event of a Canada Post strike, but has not received a response.
The labor dispute comes as Canada Post struggles to stay afloat amid financial losses.
Canada Post says it posted operating losses of $490 million in the first half of the year and since 2018, it has lost more than $3 billion.
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