Canada Post workers could strike again soon. Here’s why

After hanging employees took to picket traces and a “couple million” packages piled up simply earlier than Christmas final yr, Canada Publish is again on the negotiation desk with the union representing its staff this week.

The Canadian Union of Postal Staff (CUPW) and the postal service are attempting to succeed in a deal on a brand new collective settlement earlier than their previous one runs out on Could 22.

The strike in late 2024 ended when the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered the two sides back to work on Dec. 15. It additionally prolonged the collective agreements between the employees and their employer till Could 22, which is what staff have been working below ever since.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon additionally established an industrial inquiry fee as a way to get a greater understanding of Canada Publish’s monetary troubles, and why negotiations haven’t been profitable so far. That fee’s findings will come out on Could 15.

The extension of the previous collective settlement and its nearing expiry date are why the 2 sides are negotiating as soon as once more.

In different phrases, the order again to work was extra like a pause of the strike, in accordance with Hena Singh, an employment lawyer and mediator.

“We had a pause within the negotiations and the federal government despatched everybody again to work to undergo this fee course of. After which now they’re all coming again to the desk,” Singh stated.

Singh provides that whereas it isn’t irregular for the federal government to order staff again to work — that is how the latest rail workers strike and the B.C. port strike ended, for instance — it’s unusual for them to nominate a fee to get to the foundation of the difficulty.

If the 2 sides do not come to an settlement by Could 22, Canada Publish employees might go on strike once more.

Since December, the 2 sides have had a number of conferences to attempt to attain a deal. Talks on March 1 and a pair of ended without any new agreement. The conferences on Wednesday and Thursday of this week had been the subsequent rounds of negotiations.

How have talks been going?

We do not have precise particulars on the newest rounds of negotiations, as each Canada Publish and the union haven’t given any updates about this week’s talks.

Forward of negotiations, the union representing Canada Publish’s employees stated it remained dedicated to attaining its targets of securing an settlement that will give employees “truthful wages, well being and security protections, job safety, and the fitting to retire with dignity.”

“It is no secret that this has been a difficult spherical of bargaining for all of us,” CUPW stated in a bulletin to members. It added in that memo that the conferences scheduled for April 31 and Could 1 might proceed if progress was being made.

CUPW advised CBC Information in an e mail on Friday that the 2 sides had been “nonetheless in talks” in the present day.

Canada Publish additionally launched an announcement on April 29 saying the 2 sides had been assembly with the assistance of a mediator.

“Canada Publish is dedicated to the bargaining course of and is striving to succeed in new collective agreements that may assist us higher serve the altering wants of Canadians whereas offering good jobs to those that present that service,” Lisa Liu, a spokesperson for Canada Publish, stated in a written assertion to CBC Information.

In contrast to this spherical of talks, the March negotiations broke down into extra disagreement between the 2 sides after two days. The union said on the time that it provided “significant proposals” that will assist Canada Publish present postal deliveries on the weekends (one thing that is been a sticking level to this point within the negotiations), however stated the crown company pushed for “severe rollbacks” that will harm jobs.

For its half, Canada Post said in March that the union did not acknowledge challenges the corporate faces. The postal service has lost $3 billion since 2018 as personal carriers have eaten into the package deal supply market, and as letter mail goes away. Canada Publish additionally previously warned that it might run out of cash as quickly because the second quarter of 2025.

Wealthy Appiah, principal of employment and labour legislation agency Appiah Legislation in Toronto, says it is possible the concept of delivering postage on weekends would possibly nonetheless be a sticking level. Within the fall, the union expressed fear that every day postal deliveries would open the door to Canada Publish hiring contract employees — one thing a union by no means needs, in accordance with Appiah.

“If [that] stays one thing that is on the desk … then I can think about that the union will struggle tooth and nail in opposition to any potential contracting out,” Appiah stated.

How possible is one other strike?

Appiah says it is onerous to foretell whether or not we would see one other strike by Canada Publish. He says that unions and employers usually use the specter of a strike or lockout as a instrument in negotiations, so it isn’t unusual for 2 sides to come back to last-minute agreements and keep away from a piece stoppage within the eleventh hour.

Forward of a potential strike, some firms that ship out paper statements within the mail (particularly monetary establishments, akin to banks) have begun sending notices to their clients, warning of the potential work stoppage.

Most of the establishments advocate switching to e-statements, or direct shoppers to test web sites or apps for info normally despatched by mail, within the occasion of one other strike.

However Singh says the findings within the fee’s report might assist talks and keep away from a strike.

The negotiations, to her understanding, have stalled as a result of the union is making requests that the corporate says it may well’t realistically ship on because of its monetary state of affairs. Given the inquiry will dig into Canada Publish’s enterprise mannequin and funds, Singh says the report might assist the 2 events come to an understanding.

“Will probably be precious, I feel, for [the union] to know what the circumstances are of the Canada Publish … in order that the negotiations can replicate that,” Singh stated.

Singh says the break in time for the reason that final spherical of negotiations and the truth that the events are working with a mediator are all components that may be serving to the present talks. She says the impression of the strike within the fall on the general public can be prime of thoughts for each events, who know that companies and people who cannot use their providers might pivot to different couriers and doubtlessly stick to them even after a strike ends.

“The truth is … I do not suppose both aspect needs a strike or a lockout,” Singh stated. “It [would] decrease public confidence in them.”

If employees do strike once more, Appiah explains that there is nothing stopping the federal government from ordering the workers again to work a second time.

“It is at all times a chance, particularly with a brand new authorities that appears fairly involved concerning the economic system,” Appiah stated.