After nearly a month on the picket lines, striking Canada Post employees could soon be forced back to work.
In a statement released Friday morning, federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon announced that he is sending the dispute between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and Canada Post to the Canada Industrial Relations Board. He said that if the Board determines that the two parties are not close to a deal, the workers will be forced to return to work under their previous collective agreement until May 22, 2025.
"While this provides a temporary solution, the Government's priorities are to get the parties back on track to resolve the dispute and reach agreements," he said. "Canadians cannot continue to bear the costs of this impasse. Our priority is to restore postal services while ensuring a fair balance between the rights of workers, those of the employer, but also those of Canadians."
MacKinnon added that he hopes mail delivery will resume early next week.
The 55,000 employees who are members of CUPW are striking for fair wages, safe working conditions, the right to retire with dignity, and the expansion of services at the public post office. Canada Post has said that it wants to provide weekend mail delivery and to have more of it done by part time employees.
"The Union denounces in the strongest terms this assault on our constitutionally protected right to collectively bargain and to strike," CUPW said in a statement released after MacKinnon's announcement. "This order continues a deeply troubling pattern in which the government uses its arbitrary powers to let employers off the hook, drag their feet, and refuse to bargain in good faith with workers and their unions."
The latest proposal from the union lowered its wage increase demands to 19 per cent over four years. It also included a provision that would guarantee 20 hours a week of work for part time employees.
The strike began on November 15.