Canada Post Workers Set to Strike for Second Time in Less than Six Months

Strategic Insights -

Canada Post workers, represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), are gearing up for a second strike in less than six months, after a last-ditch effort to avoid another work stoppage ended in failure. The strike, which is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, has been months in the making, with the two sides failing to reach a consensus on a new contract. The Crown corporation, Canada Post, has accused the union of not providing a comprehensive response to a contract offer made on Tuesday, while the union has criticized Canada Post's refusal to accept a two-week truce to allow for further negotiations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The strike, which affects mail and parcel delivery services, is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, just hours after a meeting between the two sides failed to produce a deal.
  • The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has been bargaining with Canada Post over a new contract for months, with the two sides failing to reach a consensus.
  • The Crown corporation has accused the union of not providing a comprehensive response to a contract offer made on Tuesday, which includes total wage increases of 13 per cent for existing employees over four years.
  • The contract offer also includes the creation of new, part-time carrier job categories to help Canada Post extend parcel delivery to weekends, as well as the use of "dynamic routing" at 10 mail-sorting facilities.
  • Labour relations professor Larry Savage has suggested that the union may be asking for a two-week extension to buy time to get itself organized for the strike, which could be a sign of internal division within the union.
  • The federal government may introduce back-to-work legislation sooner rather than later, due to waning public and political patience for a strike after last year's 32-day work stoppage.

Statistics:

  • 12:01 a.m. on Friday: The strike is set to begin.
  • 13 per cent: Total wage increases for existing employees over four years, according to Canada Post's contract offer.
  • 6 per cent: Wage increase in the first year of the proposed contract.
  • 3 per cent: Wage increase in the third year of the proposed contract.
  • 2 per cent: Wage increase in the second and fourth years of the proposed contract.
  • 10: The number of mail-sorting facilities that will use "dynamic routing" under the proposed contract.
  • 32 days: The length of last year's work stoppage.

Sources:

  • By Josh Rubin; www.thestar.com
  • Canada Post statement, written on [no date provided]
  • CUPW statement, emailed on [no date provided]
  • Larry Savage, labour relations professor, quoted in the article on [no date provided]
  • FedEx spokesperson, quoted in an emailed statement on [no date provided]