Latest news with #JanSimpson
National Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Canada Post rejects union terms for arbitration as both sides enter bitter stalemate
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) President Jan Simpson, second from right, takes part in a Canada Post rally outside of the Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa, on Saturday. Photo by Spencer Colby / Postmedia MONTREAL — A government push to steer Canada Post and the union representing 55,000 mail workers toward common ground hit a big pothole Monday. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors As an increasingly acrimonious impasse drags on, Canada Post rejected a framework put forward by the union for a binding arbitration process, which Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu asked the parties to work toward just five days earlier. Canada Post spokeswoman Lisa Liu said the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has effectively refused to take heed of a federally commissioned report that called for major reforms to the 158-year-old institution, including more flexible routes and part-time weekend positions with similar pay rates and benefits. Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again 'The union's refusal to recognize the IIC (industrial inquiry commission) report and its recommendations in their proposed terms of reference for arbitration is unacceptable,' she said in a statement. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said its goal remains a return to the bargaining table to hammer out a new contract. 'However, Canada Post's actions suggest it does not want to negotiate. It wants to rewrite our agreements — and is seeking to use government interference to further its goals,' the union said in a release Monday. Canada Post questioned that claim, noting that the union has not responded to its latest offer from May 28. The two sides exchanged some information on Thursday and Friday through federal mediators, but have had little contact since, the Crown corporation added. Meanwhile, the union called on members to sign a letter to the minister opposing the prospect of a forced vote on Canada Post's 'final offers.' The letter says that such a move — requested by Canada Post _ would amount to government interference, tip the scales in the employer's favour and potentially sow division in the ranks of employees. 'The issues will remain contentious among some, most or all of the membership, depending upon how the vote goes,' the Sunday missive states, adding that resulting resentment would undermine labour peace. Union president Jan Simpson hinted at possible rifts within the membership last week, saying in an update that 'although tensions are high, let's not forget our fight is with the employer, not one another.' Canada Post's last proposal includes an end to compulsory overtime, signing bonuses of between $500 and $1,000 and cost-of-living payments that are triggered at a lower inflation threshold.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Stalemate between Canada Post and workers drags on as union demands feds stay out
GATINEAU — Canada Post says it has failed to make progress in recent talks with the union representing 55,000 postal workers as an increasingly acrimonious impasse drags on. The Crown corporation says the two sides cannot find common ground even on the terms for an arbitration process, which Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu asked the parties to work toward. Canada Post spokeswoman Lisa Liu says the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has effectively refused to recognize a federally commissioned report that called for major reforms to the 158-year-old institution, including more flexible routes and part-time weekend positions with similar pay rates and benefits. She says the two sides exchanged some information on Thursday and Friday through federal mediators, but managed little contact since. Meanwhile, the union called on members to sign a letter to the minister opposing the prospect of a forced vote on Canada Post's 'final offers.' The letter says that such a move — requested by Canada Post — would amount to government interference, tip the scales in the employer's favour and potentially sow division in the ranks of employees. 'The issues will remain contentious among some, most or all of the membership, depending upon how the vote goes,' the Sunday missive states, adding that resulting resentment would undermine labour peace. Union president Jan Simpson hinted at possible rifts within the membership last week, saying in an update that 'although tensions are high, let's not forget our fight is with the employer, not one another.' Canada Post's 'final offers,' presented May 28, include an end to compulsory overtime, signing bonuses of between $500 and $1,000 and cost-of-living payments that are triggered at a lower inflation threshold. Management's earlier offer of a nearly 14 per cent cumulative wage hike over four years remains unchanged, as does a plan to hire part-time staff for weekend parcel delivery — a major sticking point in the talks. Last Wednesday, the jobs minister called on Canada Post and the union to return to the bargaining table and hash out terms for binding arbitration, with the two sides acres apart on key issues. Hajdu also asked the Crown corporation and union to continue to work toward a deal outside of that process in a dual-track approach to reach a new contract. The union backed down from the threat of a strike last month, but imposed an ongoing overtime ban instead on May 23. A strike would mark the union's second work stoppage in six months, after mail carriers went on strike for 32 days at the height of the pre-holiday shipping season in November and December. That action was part of the same contract negotiations at issue now. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June, 9, 2025. The Canadian Press
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada Post rejects binding arbitration as labor dispute intensifies
Tensions in Canada's postal service drama are worsening after Canada Post rejected a proposal by unionized mail carriers to resolve stalled contract talks with binding arbitration, adding to uncertainty about whether workers will take further action that could halt mail and parcel service across the nation. Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have since May 23 refused to work overtime, resulting in a limited slowdown for deliveries. The action was taken in lieu of a threatened strike when a government-imposed moratorium on pressure tactics, which ended a 32-day strike in December, expired. Many e-commerce retailers that rely on Canada Post for last-mile parcel deliveries have switched business to FedEx, UPS and a host of independent couriers, contributing to a 65% year-over-year drop in Canada Post's parcel volumes The CUPW on Saturday objected to Canada Post's call for the government to go over the union's head and conduct a member vote on its 'best-and-final' offer, saying a forced vote represented an 'unwarranted government intervention in the free collective bargaining process' and would not result in lasting labor peace between the parties. The union countered with a proposal for binding arbitration to resolve all outstanding issues over wages, benefits, job protection and working conditions. During the arbitration process, employees cannot strike and the employer cannot lock out the employees. Those conditions wouldn't apply in the event of a forced vote, according to the union.'This refusal constitutes yet another demonstration that Canada Post Corporation is not interested in a reasonable outcome to this round of negotiation. A forced vote may fail to end the labour conflict and risks further division, prolonging uncertainty for all parties. Arbitration would end the labour dispute immediately and create certainty for all Canadians,' the CUPW said in a weekend statement. Canada Post characterized arbitration in completely opposite terms. 'After 18 months of challenging negotiations with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Canada Post is seeking a timely and fair resolution to restore stability to the postal system while ensuring employees have a voice in the process by allowing them to vote. Arbitration would be long and complicated, likely lasting more than a year. This would further extend the uncertainty experienced over the last 18 months and accelerate the company's significant financial challenges. It would also continue to leave employees without a contract – and strip them of their right to vote on a new collective agreement,' Canada Post said in a statement, noting that the CUPW has traditionally opposed binding arbitration. CUPW National President Jan Simpson said in an Oct. 30, 2024, message to members that binding arbitration was a Canada Post delaying tactic that would waste union dues on lawyers and Post needs union cooperation to make structural and operational changes to its business model in an effort to break a precipitous decline in mail and parcel volumes over many years that has resulted in $2.7 billion in losses since 2018. A government commission last month declared that Canada Post is in a financial crisis. It recommended a series of reforms, endorsed by the postal operator, such as lowering delivery standards, flexible use of part-time employees for weekend parcel delivery and more use of community mailboxes instead of door delivery. It placed most of the blame for the failed labor negotiations on the CUPW, saying union leadership is defending the status quo and seeking best-in-class compensation, terms and conditions. Canada Post is pushing for dynamic structuring of delivery routes each day based on parcel volumes, load leveling among drivers to more evenly spread the workload and a lighter regulatory hand so it can lower parcel rates to more competitive levels, among other changes. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. Canada Post asks government to hold employee vote on contract offer Small businesses at risk as Canada Post workers prepare to strikeThe post Canada Post rejects binding arbitration as labor dispute intensifies appeared first on FreightWaves.
CTV News
31-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Canada Post workers gather in Ottawa as part of nationwide rallies
Dozens rally in support of Canada Post workers at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa on Saturday May. 31, 2025 (Josh Marano/ CTV News Ottawa) Dozens of Canada Post workers and other supporters came out to a rally Saturday to show their support amid ongoing labour tensions between the employer and the union representing roughly 55,000 postal staff. Ottawa was one of 13 cities hosting a rally which started at the Human Rights Monument before making its way to the prime minister's office on Wellington Street. Canada Post presented its 'final offers' to the union on Wednesday, including compulsory overtime and a signing bonus of up to $1,000. But it stuck to a proposal for a 14 per cent cumulative wage hike over four years and part-time staff on weekend shifts, a major sticking point for the union. National president for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Jan Simpson, says the offer does not meet the needs of postal workers. 'We feel the best way for this round of bargaining is to go to binding arbitration, where we're actually able to resolve the issues and have some labor peace as well,' Simpson says. Canada Post says the two sides are at an impasse after months of conciliation and mediation and has asked Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to force a union membership vote on its latest proposal. The union has been in a legal strike position as of May 23, but so far has opted instead for an overtime ban. 'We want to get back to the table, we want to bargain collective agreements,' Simpson adds. 'For us right now, the situation we're in because of Canada Post asking the minister for to go to the vote, we're looking at other options for us to try to resolve these collective agreements.' Simpson adds the union is looking for living wages, health and safety to be improved as well as expansion of the public post office. With files from The Canadian Press
Ottawa Citizen
31-05-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Postal workers protest 'final offer' from Canada Post
Ottawa postal workers, with support from Ontario and Quebec locals, protested on Saturday against Canada Post's demand that they be forced to vote on the company's 'final offer.' Article content Article content Gathering in front of the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights monument near city hall, leaders from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers decried what they said was an attack on the public post office. Article content Article content The crowd of around 90 heard speeches and chanted 'Hands off my post office' before marching to the prime minister's office on nearby Wellington Street. Article content Article content 'Our public post office is under attack. Canada Post is pushing cuts that are going to harm you, the workers, but also harm the Canadian public,' Jan Simpson, CUPW's national president, said at the rally. Article content The union announced a nationwide overtime ban for its 55,000 workers on May 23 as they began escalating toward strike action. On Saturday, similar rallies took place across Canada as the union sought to send a message to Canada Post about its vision for the future of the struggling public service. Article content Article content Article content The union has also criticized Canada Post for asking Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu to direct that a vote take place on an offer made Wednesday. What Canada Post called its 'final offer,' included a signing bonus of $500 or $1,000, the removal of compulsory overtime and other items. Article content In an interview with the Ottawa Citizen, Simpson said that forcing a vote on the last offer was not the best way to solve the labour dispute. Simpson said many issues that caused the strike remained on the table, including route ownership from letter carriers, closing of retail storefronts and downsizing of the public post office.
