Canada Post Workers Issue Strike Notice Amid Ongoing Contract Negotiations

Tuesday 12 November 2024 - 15:10

Canada Post employees are set to be in a legal strike position on Friday, marking one year since contract negotiations began with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Early Tuesday, CUPW’s executive board issued a 72-hour strike notice covering both urban and rural mail carriers.

According to CUPW, significant gaps remain between the union and Canada Post on key issues, such as wages, pensions, and medical leave. Despite negotiations beginning in November 2023, both parties have struggled to find common ground. Following a mandatory cooling-off period, CUPW has had legal strike authorization since November 3, with over 95% of urban and rural members endorsing the strike mandate in a recent vote.

CUPW President Jan Simpson stated that the union has yet to decide if it will initiate job action immediately, explaining that this will depend on Canada Post’s responses in the coming days. Canada Post, however, has warned that unresolved labor disputes could impact services, especially during the busy holiday season, with rural communities likely to be affected.

Facing financial challenges, Canada Post recently proposed annual wage increases totaling 11.5% over four years and expressed interest in a new delivery model featuring seven-day parcel deliveries. The corporation, which reported a $490 million loss in the first half of 2024 and a $748 million pre-tax loss in 2023, cites increased competition in parcel delivery, declining transaction mail volumes, and rising delivery costs as contributing factors to its financial difficulties.