Because the nationwide postal strike hit the four-week mark Friday, federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon introduced he is sending the labour dispute between Canada Put up and the Canadian Union of Postal Staff (CUPW) to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
This is a short recap of how issues bought thus far.
What led to the strike?
CUPW said the strike was necessary after Canada Put up “refused to barter actual options to the problems postal employees face day-after-day.”
Because the strike started, Canada Put up warned in a statement that it would “trigger delays for Canadians as vacation buying season begins.”
When did the strike start?
At 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.
Have mediators been concerned?
Federal mediation was put on hold Nov. 27 after mediators concluded the sides have been too far aside.
What about Ottawa’s involvement?
On Friday, MacKinnon mentioned he was sending the labour dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). If the board determines a deal is not in attain by the tip of the 12 months, it will order the almost 55,000 employees again to work below their present contract till Could 22, 2025.
The vacation rush is in full swing. For some, Christmas presents in limbo are a supply of frustration. Because the CBC’s Leila Beaudoin reviews, native retailers are scrambling to try to get merchandise to prospects throughout what’s already the busiest time of the 12 months.
“We’re calling a day trip,” the minister mentioned Friday.
“Suffice to say positions appeared to have hardened and it turned clear to me we have been in a complete deadlock.”
Within the meantime, MacKinnon mentioned he’ll appoint an industrial inquiry fee to look into the bargaining points.
It’s going to have till Could 15 to provide you with suggestions on how a brand new settlement may very well be reached.
What about Canada Put up service?
Canada Put up operations have halted in the course of the strike.
MacKinnon mentioned he hopes the CIRB will act shortly, and if it agrees along with his conclusions, it may “order a resumption of actions of Canada Put up that would occur as early as early subsequent week.”
How uncommon is this type of intervention?
Ottawa used Part 107 of the Labour Code to make its transfer Friday, after utilizing the identical powers to intervene earlier this 12 months in disputes on the nation’s railways and ports, directing the CIRB to order employees again to work and to order binding arbitration.
It is a transfer that sparked authorized challenges from the unions concerned and that labour specialists and advocates have mentioned erodes employees’ bargaining rights.
This time, the federal government’s use of Part 107 is “extra restrained,” mentioned Alison Braley-Rattai, an affiliate professor of labour research at Brock College in St. Catharines, Ont.
Was this anticipated?
Enterprise teams have been calling on the federal government to intervene — although Canada Put up had not. Up till Friday, MacKinnon insisted intervention wasn’t within the playing cards.
Braley-Rattai mentioned she is not stunned the federal government ended up stepping in as a result of the dispute “has been occurring for a really very long time.”
Because the nationwide postal strike hits the four-week mark, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has determined to ship the contract dispute between Canada Put up and the union representing placing employees to the Canada Industrial Relations Board — an announcement that Canadian Union of Postal Staff consultant Stephen Gale says is extraordinarily irritating.
MacKinnon known as the transfer a inventive answer as a result of it doesn’t ship the matter on to binding arbitration — as the federal government did within the disputes with the railways and ports.
He mentioned this does not assure a deal can be in attain by Could, however that he hoped the inquiry may present a path ahead that works for each Canada Put up and its employees.
How have the two sides reacted?
CUPW issued an announcement denouncing MacKinnon’s transfer “within the strongest phrases,” and calling the choice an “assault on our constitutionally protected proper to collectively cut price and to strike.”
The union mentioned it is reviewing the labour minister’s order and is contemplating its choices.
Canada Post said it was reviewing the main points of Friday’s announcement “to make sure we’re ready to totally take part within the course of and adjust to the minister’s directive.”
Is that this about wages?
The 2 sides are negotiating plenty of points — wages being certainly one of them.
CUPW negotiators met with Canada Put up on Monday — the first time the 2 sides have met for the reason that federal mediation effort halted. The union mentioned it issued separate calls for for its city mail carriers and its rural and suburban mail carriers, however made the next combined demands for each teams:
- Wage will increase of 9 per cent, 4 per cent, three per cent and three per cent over 4 years.
- A value-of-living allowance.
- Ten medical days along with seven days of non-public go away.
- A rise in short-term incapacity funds to 80 per cent of standard wages.
- Improved rights for short-term employees and on-call reduction workers.
CUPW nationwide president Jan Simpson mentioned Friday the union has not heard again from Canada Put up about its revised calls for. She accused the Crown company of dragging its heels so the federal authorities would step in.
“Proper now, we’re having discussions internally on what we’re going to do. However proper now, the members are nonetheless holding the picket traces sturdy as a result of they’re nonetheless preventing for honest wages, to retire with dignity and enhance well being and security,” Simpson instructed CBC Information on Friday.
In an announcement shared with CBC Information, a spokesperson for Canada Put up mentioned the Crown company is “extraordinarily disillusioned” with the union’s newest provide.
Earlier this week, Canada Post acknowledged the union had moved on its wage calls for, however mentioned they have been nonetheless not inexpensive for the company.
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