Canada Post and CUPW meet Sunday to negotiate amid ongoing overtime ban and stalled talks, risking mail delays as labour dispute continues.
Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) are scheduled to meet Sunday as their labour dispute intensifies, with a national overtime ban ongoing and mail delivery delays mounting.
Stalemate Continues as Overtime Ban Persists
The Crown corporation confirmed Sunday’s meeting will be the first over the weekend, involving union negotiators and a mediator to break months-long deadlock over a new collective bargaining agreement. The union’s national ban on overtime, initiated instead of a strike, remains in effect, disrupting mail delivery schedules across Canada.
Latest Offers and Union Response
Canada Post presented its most recent proposals on Wednesday, including a wage increase totaling about 13.6% over four years and plans to introduce more part-time workers to improve operational flexibility. The offer also includes six additional personal days and improved short-term disability income replacement. However, CUPW has yet to formally respond, having requested a two-week truce to review the complex 700-page proposal, which Canada Post rejected.
Financial Pressures and Structural Changes
The negotiations occur against a backdrop of severe financial strain for Canada Post, which has reported over $3 billion in losses since 2018 and faces potential insolvency. The federal government has provided repayable funding exceeding $1 billion to stabilize the service. An Industrial Inquiry Commission recommended significant structural reforms, including phasing out daily door-to-door delivery and implementing dynamic routing for mail carriers, which the union opposes.
Implications for Canadians and Businesses
The expiry of the previous collective agreement on Thursday and CUPW’s strike notice earlier in the week heightened tensions, though the union opted for the overtime ban instead of an immediate strike to exert pressure. Canada Post continues operations but warns that service disruptions and delays are likely if the impasse continues. Both sides acknowledge the urgency to reach an agreement to avoid further disruption for millions of Canadians and businesses relying on postal services.
This ongoing labour dispute highlights the challenges of balancing financial realities with workers’ demands amid evolving postal service needs. The Sunday meeting marks a critical opportunity to move negotiations forward and restore stability to Canada’s postal system.
