Latest news with #PattyHajdu
Global News
a day ago
- Business
- Global News
Canada Post rejects union's request for binding arbitration
Canada Post has rejected a request by the union for binding arbitration, with the Crown corporation saying it would be 'long and complicated.' The Crown corporation said in a statement Sunday that it was seeking a 'timely and fair resolution' that would ensure employees would 'have a voice' through a vote. 'The union's proposal to send the matter to binding arbitration would do the opposite,' Canada Post said, adding it could take more than a year. In a response to the rejection, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) expressed its disappointment. 'This refusal constitutes yet another demonstration that CPC (Canada Post Corporation) is not interested in a reasonable outcome to this round of negotiation,' the union wrote in a news release. 'A forced vote may fail to end the labour conflict and risks further division, prolonging uncertainty for all parties.' Story continues below advertisement The union had made the request Saturday after the Crown corporation asked Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu a day earlier to direct the postal workers' union to hold a vote on the 'final offers' the national mail carrier presented last week. 0:33 Canada Post sends 'final offer' to union amid financial struggles In a statement Friday, Canada Post said it was not possible to reach tentative agreements through negotiations 'given the level of impasse and CUPW's negotiating position.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Such a vote would effectively adopt the final offers presented by Canada Post as a new collective agreement, in a method similar to a membership-wide ratification of a tentative deal. CUPW said Saturday that a 'government-imposed vote' would not bring about an end to the labour dispute, adding it would be 'another unwarranted government intervention.' Officials with the union had met with Hajdu and Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli on Friday. Story continues below advertisement In a post on X on Friday evening, Hajdu said she urged both parties to work together to find an agreement that 'maintains a strong and lasting postal service,' adding that her office was reviewing the order by Canada Post for a vote and federal mediators would remain available to continue work at the negotiating table. But the union said on Saturday that arbitration was the best path forward. 'At this time and in these circumstances, only arbitration can end the ongoing labour dispute fairly and expeditiously,' the union said. The union and Canada Post have been trying to negotiate a new contract for more than 18 months. There was also a month-long strike last year. That strike was ended when then-labour minister Steven MacKinnon asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order workers back on the job if it agreed with his determination that there was an impasse in negotiations. 10:53 CUPW reviewing Canada Post offer amid overtime ban MacKinnon had also ordered an industrial inquiry commission to review the structural issues of the dispute, which were laid out in a report released last month that made several recommendations, including to phase out door-to-door letter delivery for individual addresses. Story continues below advertisement Canada Post is 'facing an existential crisis: It is effectively insolvent, or bankrupt,' the report from the Industrial Inquiry Commission said. The Crown corporation earlier this week posted a nearly $1.3-billion operating loss for 2024, while revenues fell by $800 million, or 12.2 per cent, compared with 2023. Last year's strike contributed to a 'net negative impact of $208 million' towards Canada Post's $841-million loss before tax, the latest annual report said. When the corporation presented its offers on Wednesday, it said in a news release that the final offers were 'designed to move negotiations forward and return certainty and stability to customers, Canada Post's employees, and all Canadians.' — with files from Global News' Sean Boynton and Uday Rana
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Labour dispute drags on as Canada Post rejects union's arbitration request
Canada Post has rejected a request from the union representing about 55,000 of its workers to send their ongoing labour dispute to binding arbitration. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers made the request in a statement on Saturday, saying it was inviting Canada Post to a fair, final and binding arbitration process to resolve negotiations that have dragged on for months without producing a new collective agreement. But the Crown corporation dismissed the proposal in a response on Sunday, saying it wants to "restore stability" to the postal service and arguing the union's request for binding arbitration would do the opposite. Canada Post said arbitration would be long and complicated and would likely last more than a year, adding to what it described as its significant financial challenges. The corporation presented what it called its "final offer" to the union on Wednesday, with concessions including an end to compulsory overtime and a signing bonus of up to $1,000. But it stuck to a proposal for a 14 per cent cumulative wage hike over four years and using part-time staff on weekend shifts, a major sticking point in the talks. Canada Post said the two sides are at loggerheads after months of conciliation and mediation, and it's asked Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to force a union membership vote on its latest proposals. A statement from CUPW on Sunday evening said the forced union vote would not bring lasting labour peace — regardless of the vote's outcome. "This refusal constitutes yet another demonstration that [Canada Post] is not interested in a reasonable outcome to this round of negotiation. A forced vote may fail to end the labour conflict and risks further division, prolonging uncertainty for all parties," the statement said. The union has been in a legal strike position as of May 23, but so far it's opted to ban members from working overtime instead.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Canada Post rejects union's request for binding arbitration to end labour dispute
Canada Post vehicles are seen parked at a delivery depot in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck) Canada Post has rejected a request from the union representing about 55,000 of its workers to send their ongoing labour dispute to binding arbitration. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers made the request in a statement issued Saturday, saying it was inviting Canada Post to a fair, final and binding arbitration process to resolve negotiations that have dragged on for months without producing a new collective agreement. But the crown corporation dismissed the proposal in a response released on Sunday, saying it wants to 'restore stability' to the postal service and arguing the union's request for binding arbitration would do the opposite. Canada Post says arbitration would be long and complicated and would likely last more than a year, adding to what it described as it's significant financial challenges. Canada Post presented what it called its 'final offers' to the union on Wednesday, with concessions including an end to compulsory overtime and a signing bonus of up to $1,000. But it stuck to a proposal for a 14 per cent cumulative wage hike over four years and part-time staff on weekend shifts, a major sticking point in the talks. Canada Post said the two sides are at loggerheads after months of conciliation and mediation and has asked Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to force a union membership vote on its latest proposals. The union has been in a legal strike position as of May 23, but so far has opted to ban members from working overtime instead. The Canadian Press With files from Christopher Reynolds in Montreal
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Canada Post rejects union's request for binding arbitration to end labour dispute
Canada Post vehicles are seen parked at a delivery depot in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck) Canada Post has rejected a request from the union representing about 55,000 of its workers to send their ongoing labour dispute to binding arbitration. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers made the request in a statement issued Saturday, saying it was inviting Canada Post to a fair, final and binding arbitration process to resolve negotiations that have dragged on for months without producing a new collective agreement. But the crown corporation dismissed the proposal in a response released on Sunday, saying it wants to 'restore stability' to the postal service and arguing the union's request for binding arbitration would do the opposite. Canada Post says arbitration would be long and complicated and would likely last more than a year, adding to what it described as it's significant financial challenges. Canada Post presented what it called its 'final offers' to the union on Wednesday, with concessions including an end to compulsory overtime and a signing bonus of up to $1,000. But it stuck to a proposal for a 14 per cent cumulative wage hike over four years and part-time staff on weekend shifts, a major sticking point in the talks. Canada Post said the two sides are at loggerheads after months of conciliation and mediation and has asked Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to force a union membership vote on its latest proposals. The union has been in a legal strike position as of May 23, but so far has opted to ban members from working overtime instead. The Canadian Press With files from Christopher Reynolds in Montreal
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada Post rejects union's request for binding arbitration to end labour dispute
Canada Post has rejected a request from the union representing about 55,000 of its workers to send their ongoing labour dispute to binding arbitration. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers made the request in a statement issued Saturday, saying it was inviting Canada Post to a fair, final and binding arbitration process to resolve negotiations that have dragged on for months without producing a new collective agreement. But the crown corporation dismissed the proposal in a response released on Sunday, saying it wants to "restore stability" to the postal service and arguing the union's request for binding arbitration would do the opposite. Canada Post says arbitration would be long and complicated and would likely last more than a year, adding to what it described as it's significant financial challenges. Canada Post presented what it called its "final offers" to the union on Wednesday, with concessions including an end to compulsory overtime and a signing bonus of up to $1,000. But it stuck to a proposal for a 14 per cent cumulative wage hike over four years and part-time staff on weekend shifts, a major sticking point in the talks. Canada Post said the two sides are at loggerheads after months of conciliation and mediation and has asked Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to force a union membership vote on its latest proposals. The union has been in a legal strike position as of May 23, but so far has opted to ban members from working overtime instead. — With files from Christopher Reynolds in Montreal This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025. The Canadian Press
