Latest news with #postalWorkers
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Jobs Minister presses Canada Post, union to reach a deal
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu is calling on Canada Post and the union representing 55,000 postal workers to return to the bargaining table and hash out terms for binding arbitration. In a social media statement Wednesday, the minister also asked the Crown corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to continue to work toward a deal outside of that process. She says arbitration is 'not the preferred path,' but suggested the stage would be set for an imposed settlement if the two sides could not find common ground themselves. 'Canadians expect the parties to resolve this dispute one way or another. To do that they must meet and pursue these two paths with urgency,' Hajdu said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Federal mediators are standing by to help, she added. Canada Post asks Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to force union vote on 'final offers' Canada Post workers rally in 13 cities to raise awareness of labour dispute On Friday, Canada Post asked the minister to force a union vote on its 'final offers,' while the union requested binding arbitration, which the employer rejected. The union said Tuesday that a forced vote on a new contract would amount to a 'government attack on our rights to free collective bargaining.' It also said it had been given a Wednesday deadline to respond to the latest offers, which include an end to compulsory overtime and a signing bonus of up to $1,000, among other concessions. But the employer stuck to its proposal for a 14 per cent cumulative wage hike over four years, a 'dynamic routing' pilot that could see mail carriers' routes change daily in response to parcel volume, and part-time staff on weekend shifts – a major sticking point in the talks. Canada Post has warned that arbitration would be 'long and complicated' and would likely last more than a year, adding to its significant financial challenges. The Crown corporation said last week it logged nearly $1.3-billion in operating losses last year, raising further questions about its business model as letter volumes plunge and fears of a second disruption in six months persist. The union again adopted a legal strike position starting May 23, but it has opted instead to ban members from working overtime while negotiations continued. The 32-day work stoppage in November and December halted millions of letters and packages in the peak shipping season ahead of the winter holidays last year. Shippers fled Canada Post in droves when workers went on strike Nov. 15. Rather than be caught flat-footed a second time, plenty of e-commerce companies have played it safe by booking with other couriers. Canada Post says parcel volumes are down 65 per cent from the same time last year due to uncertainty over the contract negotiations.
Globe and Mail
31-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Supporters of Canada Post workers set to rally across the country
Rallies in support of Canada Post workers are set to take place across the country today amid ongoing labour tensions between the employer and the union representing roughly 55,000 staff. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers announced the rallies on its website, saying supporters will gather in 13 cities including Halifax, Toronto and Vancouver. The union says members won't stop fighting to protect and expand the public post office as Canada Post pushes for job and service cuts. The 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. The Decibel: What's going on with Canada Post? Canada Post says the two sides are at an impasse 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 instead for an overtime ban. The Crown corporation said this week it logged nearly $1.3 billion in operating losses last year, raising further questions about its business model as letter volumes plunge. An annual report released earlier this week said a month-long strike last fall stemming from the same contract negotiations cost the organization $208 million. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers took to the picket lines for 32 days in late 2024, snarling mail delivery over the busy holiday shopping season.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Canada Post, union set to return to bargaining table as OT ban continues
Canada Post signage and parked vehicles are seen at a Canada Post mail sorting facility in Ottawa, on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby Canada Post and the union representing 55,000 of its workers are set to head back to the bargaining table this week as an overtime ban remains in effect. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says the Crown corporation has proposed continuing talks on Wednesday. It says Canada Post plans to respond to proposals the union presented on Sunday. The union had been in a strike position starting Friday but opted instead for an overtime ban. Some key issues in the labour dispute include wages and other forms of compensation, along with the potential of more part-time staff and weekend delivery. The postal service has said parcel volumes last week were down 50 per cent from last year and dropping. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025. The Canadian Press
National Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Ending door-to-door mail delivery in Canada. What other countries have considered it?
Canada Post needs to end door-to-door mail delivery, according to a recent report by the Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC). Article content The seismic shift is one of the key tactics the post office can undertake to modernize, while maintaining solvency without being heavily subsidized by the taxpayer, writes the Commission. The recommendation comes as the union representing Canada Post workers threatens to go on strike at the end of this week. Article content Article content It's not the first time the end of door-to-door mail delivery has been considered in Canada. Article content Canada Post announced back in 2013 that it would be phasing out door-to-door delivery of regular mail to urban residents. Back then it cited financial losses due to declining mail volume and increased online/digital communication. Article content The transition began in 2014. The first phase affected about 74,000 addresses in ten communities, including Winnipeg, Calgary, the Ottawa suburb of Kanata and several northern suburbs in Montreal. Article content But the plan came to an abrupt end due to public outcry and political pressure. Seniors and disabled people who relied on the service argued that having to trek to community mailboxes would create hardship. Postal workers protested potential job losses. Then the federal opposition parties campaigned against the Harper government's decision to overhaul the service during the 2015 election. When the Liberals won, the Trudeau government halted the plan, suspending the shift to community mailboxes. Article content
