Wednesday, June 29 is the last day to send mail before a possible work stoppage, Canada Post is warning its customers.
Service could halt entirely as of July 2, when employees will be in a legal position to strike, and management will be in a position to lock out employees.
“In the event of a labour disruption, Canada Post will not operate. Mail and parcels will not be delivered, and no new items will be accepted,” the Crown corporation said in a statement.
“Any mail and parcels within the postal system during a work disruption will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume."
Craig Dyer, president of Local 126 at the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), told CBC news that "there's no mandate on our side of the table today to go on strike. … But there's a lot of rumours and messages being sent out by the corporation that they are planning on locking out their 50,000 members."
The work stoppage would come just a few weeks before the July 20 launch of the new Canada Child Benefit. CUPW says it plans to continue sorting and delivering social assistance and pension cheques, regardless of the strike, the Globe and Mail reports.
CUPW on Tuesday asked Canada Post management for a two-week extension to negotiations, without which Canada Post employees’ contract ends July 2.
“Canada Post has been attempting to move the negotiations forward since December with little success.”
— Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton
But management reportedly rejected the request.
“Canada Post has been attempting to move the negotiations forward since December with little success,” spokesperson Jon Hamilton told Global News Wednesday.
Hamilton said Canada Post tabled offers on Saturday “that are fair to our employees and customers and have yet to receive any formal response from CUPW.”
“We’re concerned that a labour dispute will taint the outcome of the very important review that the Liberals are conducting.”
— CUPW National President Mike Palecek
CUPW has said it aims to keep negotiations going regardless of Canada Post’s rejection of the extension.
“We’re concerned that a labour dispute will taint the outcome of the very important review that the Liberals are conducting,” CUPW National President Mike Palecek said in a statement. “We’ll do everything we can to avert that.”
The federal Liberals recently announced a review of Canada Post services, including the possibility of bringing back door-to-door service — something the Liberals had made a campaign promise — and Canada Post getting back into the banking game.
The government has said privatization is off the table.
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