Canada Post says it has issued a lockout notice to the union representing its postal workers, hours after a strike notice was issued.
But the Crown corporation says it has no plans to cease operations at this time.
“Canada Post has notified the union that, unless agreements are reached, the current collective agreements will no longer apply as of Friday,” spokesperson Lisa Liu said in an email. “While it is called a lockout notice, Canada Post has no intention of ceasing any of its operations at this time”
The corporation went on to say that the notice was filed with the union and Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon and was made in accordance with the Canada Labor Code to adjust operations “based on its operational realities and business needs.”
Those changes would begin Friday, “if necessary.”
The corporation’s statement to Global News came after the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said in a press release that they had blocking notices received from Canada Post, and said action will begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday.
CUPW said it had received the notices eight hours after issuing its 72-hour strike notice, although the union did not say whether workers would walk off the job.
“Our goal has always been to reach negotiated collective agreements that support the long-term success of our public post office, while addressing the real issues our members face every day,” said Jan Simpson, national president of CUPW, in a release. “Canada Post has the ability to achieve this without any labor action, but it needs to come to the negotiating table and resolve both new and old issues.”
For almost a year, CUPW has been negotiating new contracts for the urban operations unit and the rural and suburban letter carriers (RSMC) unit.
“Despite our best efforts, the parties remain far apart on many issues,” the union said.
According to CUPW, sticking points that remain unresolved include wage increases, adding paid medical days to personal days, expanded coverage for health care specialists, fertility treatments, gender-affirming care, vision care, and preventative layoffs for pregnant and lactating employees.
Get daily national news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day.
Wycliffe Oduor, president of CUPW’s Calgary Local 701 chapter, told Global News that this strike notice could help accelerate unresolved issues on the table.
Canada Post too confirmed in a press release on Tuesday that he had received strike notices for the CUPW urban operations unit and the CMRE unit.
“The notices indicate that CUPW will be in a legal position to begin strike activity on November 15 at 12:01 a.m. ET,” Canada Post said.
The Crown Corporation said the union has been notified that if new agreements are not reached, the current collective agreements will no longer apply from Friday.
Canada Post spokesperson Lisa Liu told Global News last week that the threat of a strike ahead of the busy holiday season has already had a “serious effect” on business as customers look for other delivery options, leading which places greater financial pressure on the company. .
In his last offer to the CUPWCanada Post proposed higher annual wage increases, up to 11.5 per cent over four years, and protections for workers’ pensions. The new proposal also included enhanced leave fees and job security provisions.
The union has been in a legal strike position since Nov. 3 after a cooling-off period in contract negotiations ended the day before.
On Nov. 5, CUPW presented Canada Post with its second offer for urban and rural members, which included compound pay increases of 23.79 per cent over four years.
CUPW’s offers also included earlier demands for improved benefits and 10 paid medical days for its members, as well as issues related to labor contracting and maximizing and maintaining eight-hour routes.
Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon, who imposed binding arbitration on Tuesday to end work stoppages at Canada’s largest ports in British Columbia and Quebec, said the federal government is providing mediation support to both sides in the Canada Post labor dispute and at this stage, they remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached through collective bargaining.
“We hope to get a deal on the table,” MacKinnon told reporters.
“The issues at hand in the Canada Post negotiations are substantial. They are significant. “There is a lot of work to do… We will make every effort to keep them at the table and keep talking, and we hope to get a negotiated agreement there.”
“Big concern for retailers”
Canada Post said the impending job action could affect millions of Canadians and businesses that rely on its service.
“In the event of a work disruption, the Corporation will work to minimize service interruptions, but customers may experience delays,” the company said in its statement.
“Shutting down facilities or regions with rotating strikes can cause immediate and long-lasting ripple effects throughout the network.”
On previous occasions, Canada Post workers have held rotating strikes so that the impact on customers is minimal. There is also the option of an all-out strike, as well as Canada Post laying off workers and closing the business entirely.
The potential strike has retailers, especially smaller businesses, worried ahead of the busy holiday season.
The Retail Council of Canada had previously warned that even the possible strike at Canada Post, along with a lockout at British Columbia ports and a partial strike at the Port of Montreal, poses a “triple threat” to both businesses and Canadian clients.
“Canada Post continues to be a big concern for retailers,” Matt Poirier, vice-president of federal government relations at the Retail Council of Canada, told Global News on Tuesday.
“This is the busiest time of year and many Canadians are shopping online and relying on Canada Post to receive those products in time for the holidays… So this is a big concern for us and we’re watching it very closely. up close. closely, but it doesn’t seem to be going in the right direction.“
Poirier said businesses can turn to alternative mailing companies, but they can be more expensive.
“It’s a big problem for small retailers and that’s why we need to avoid a strike or any kind of labor action at Canada Post.”
– with files from Michael King and Sean Previl of Global News
