Latest news with #PostalWorkers
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
31-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Jobs minister urges Canada Post, union to find an agreement
Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu rises during question period in House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, May 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu is urging Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) to come to an agreement that works for both parties. Hajdu, with Secretary of State John Zerucelli, met with CUPW and Canada Post earlier today. Canada Post requested the minister's office to direct that a vote take place on the final offer submitted by the company on Wednesday. The minister said her office 'is reviewing this order and will have more to say soon.' 'In the meantime, federal mediators will remain available to continue the work at the negotiating table.' This is a breaking news update. Below is The Canadian Press' previous story… OTTAWA — Canada Post says it has asked Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to force a union vote on the proposals the Crown corporation presented to members earlier this week. Canada Post presented its 'final offers' to the union representing 55,000 workers on Wednesday, with concessions including an end to 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 in the talks. Canada Post says in a statement that the parties are at an impasse and it believes the best hope of reaching a new collective agreement is a vote administered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The Crown corporation said this week it logged nearly $1.3 billion in operating losses last year, raising further questions about its business model as letter volumes plunge and fears of a second strike in six months persist. Union representatives met with Hajdu on Friday and say rallies are planned across the country on Saturday.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Canada Post and union 'still far apart' as negotiations continue
Watch CTV's Jeremie Charron reports on the ongoing Canada Post negotiations, key sticking points, and why no deal has been reached yet.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘We want a deal': Union negotiator on ongoing talks with Canada Post
Watch Negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Jim Gallant on working to get a deal done with Canada Post as wages remains a 'major issue.'
National Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Canada Post, union disagree over taking 'five-minute wash-up time.' Here's what it is
As the possibility of a strike on Friday looms, the Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have several points that they cannot agree upon. Article content Article content The Crown Corporation received notice of a strike on Monday. It presented the union with new proposals for both of its bargaining units, Urban Postal Operation (UPO) and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC), on Wednesday. The union said it would be reviewing the offers, and said it had extended a two-week truce to Canada Post. However, the corporation refused that request, and a strike on Friday remains a possibility. Article content Article content As the review of the proposals are underway, the union said later on Wednesday that the offers 'fall short.' Article content Article content Among remaining sticking points are weekend work, benefits, wages, dynamic routing, and load levelling. The union also said that Canada Post would be 'taking away the 5-minute wash-up time.' Canada Post echoed this statement in a summary of its new global for employees in the Urban unit. The corporation said: 'We're removing the 5-minute wash-up time before the meal period.' Article content Here's what to know. Article content Five-minute wash-up time refers to time when employees can get ready before they have a meal. Article content 'Employees shall, during working hours, be allowed five (5) minutes paid wash-up time before the meal period when the nature of their work makes it necessary,' according to the Agreement between Canada Post Corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. Article content In a section about 'unproductive time' in Canada Post's written submission to the Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC) in February, the corporation says part of the Urban agreement allows for 'five minutes of paid wash-up time to allow employees to wash their hands before a meal period when the nature of their work makes it necessary.' The commission was created to examine the key issues between both parties with a series of public hearings. Article content Article content However, Canada Post has removed wash-up time from the new Urban offer currently under review. Article content Article content Rafael Gomez, University of Toronto professor and director of the Centre for Industrial Relations & Human Resources, said in an emailed statement to National Post on Thursday that the issue 'only inflames members and makes it more likely we will have another strike.' Article content 'I guess management is saying, 'Any worker is free to wash up after a shift is done, but why should 'I' (i.e., the employer) be asked to pay if the shift is done? Wash up on your time…no one is stopping you,'' he said. Article content He continued: 'While on the other side, the union is saying, 'Remaining healthy and ready to work another shift IS something 'you' (i.e., the employer) should care about and hence pay for.''
