After more than two years of negotiating, postal workers across the country have voted to ratify a new collective agreement with Canada Post.
The contracts were finalized earlier this year, with members of the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) and the Urban Postal Operations spending the last six weeks voting on whether to accept them.
Nearly 86 per cent of RSMC members voted in favour, while around 89 per cent of Urban Postal Operations members approved.
The vote results were welcome news to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
"After years of strikes and uncertainty, it is good that Canada Post will have some labour market certainty in the months ahead. Many small firms still depend on Canada Post as a low-cost way to send marketing material, move money between businesses, and send packages to consumers in every community across the country," said Dan Kelly, President of CFIB, in a statement.
The agreements include a 6.5 per cent wage increase in the first year of the contract. There will be a 3 per cent increase in year two, with the third, fourth, and fifth years of the deal offering pay raises that match the annual inflation rate.
Workers will also receive six non-carryover personal days, for a total of 13, and better income replacement for injury-on-duty leave.
The contracts will remain in effect until January 31, 2029, when new agreements will need to be reached.
