Your mail delivery is safe for another month

Canada Post is agreeing to a 30-day “cooling off period” proposed by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

In a release, CUPW says they are “fully prepared to negotiate intensively for the next 30 days under an extended “cooling off period” to reach negotiated settlements.”

It goes on to say if both can’t close negotiations within the next month, “both parties must agree to binding arbiration.”

Canada Post and the union have been in discussions since late 2015, with 60 days of conciliation and almost 30 more days with federal mediators, yet the parties remain far apart on key issues. The impasse has caused tremendous uncertainty, which is having a major impact on the business, our customers and our employees.

“Our employees are coming to work to find the amount of mail and parcels they process and deliver has dropped significantly,” the release read, “Parcel volumes from our major e-commerce customers have declined by more than 80 per cent. Yesterday alone, the amount of mail deposited across our network was down more than 80 per cent compared with the same day last year.”

A short-term extension, as proposed by the union, with the continued threat of a work disruption will not reverse this severe decline. What Canada Post has put forward is a reasonable approach that will end the uncertainty immediately and allow for meaningful discussions at the bargaining tables.

The Corporation says they’re committed to reaching settlements that are affordable and reasonable.