Days after the Canadian Union of Postal Workers announced it had a strong mandate from its membership, Canada Post is letting the public know what it is offering at the bargaining table.
CUPW said on Monday it was fighting for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to retire with dignity.
Canada Post faces financial and operational challenges and lost $490-million in the first six months of the year. Losses since 2018 total more than $3-billion.
Still, higher wages are included in the proposals. Canada Post is offering members of two bargaining units 11.5 per cent more in pay over the four-year life of the contract, protected pension benefits, language protecting job security, better leave entitlements, and its full support to merge the urban and rural and suburban bargaining units.
The Crown Corporation also proposes sending several items to binding-interest arbitration.
In mid-August, the two parties entered 60 days of conciliation. That period ended on October 12, but talks continued with the help of federally-appointed mediators.
The two sides also agreed to take 21 days to cool off. When that ends on November 2, either party is in a position to lock the workers out or go on strike.
After votes on September 9 and October 20, both bargaining groups gave CUPW a strike mandate of over 95 percent.
