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Why Canada Post talks have stalled after months of negotiations with unionized workers

(1 week ago)
Vanmala Subramaniam
Business

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Negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have stalled for 19 months, primarily over the issue of increasing part-time positions versus preserving full-time jobs. Canada Post, a Crown corporation facing financial losses, seeks to increase part-time work for efficiency and cost savings, while CUPW vehemently opposes this, viewing it as undermining the bargaining unit. The dispute escalated with CUPW filing an unfair labour practice complaint and Canada Post attempting to bypass union leadership.

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  1. 1 November 2023: CUPW and Canada Post began negotiating a new collective agreement
  2. 2 19 months ago: Labour dispute effectively began
  3. 3 January: Federal government lent Canada Post $1-billion
  4. 4 May: Federal commission report recommended Canada Post hire more part-time workers
  5. 5 Last month: Canada Post made final proposal including part-time jobs
  6. 6 May 20: Union issued strike notice (overtime ban)
  7. 7 Wednesday: CUPW filed unfair labour practice complaint
  8. 8 This July: $500-million in bonds must be repaid by Canada Post
  • Prolonged labour dispute
  • Dramatic reduction in parcel volume for Canada Post
  • Canada Post facing financial challenges and potential bankruptcy
  • Federal government lent Canada Post $1-billion
  • Uncertainty for Canada Post employees and businesses
What: Negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have stalled for 19 months, primarily over the issue of increasing part-time positions versus preserving full-time jobs.
When: 19 months (duration of conflict), Wednesday (CUPW filed complaint), November 2023 (negotiations began), May (federal report), last month (Canada Post's final proposal), since May 20 (union issued strike notice), 2024 (last strike), January (federal government lent $1-billion), this July (bonds mature).
Where: Canada (general), Scarborough, Ontario (Albert Jackson Processing Centre).
Why: Canada Post wants to increase part-time positions to save money and improve efficiency due to declining letter mail and competition, while CUPW opposes this, aiming to preserve full-time jobs and the bargaining unit's cohesion.
How: The dispute involves ongoing negotiations, an overtime ban by the union, an unfair labour practice complaint, and attempts by Canada Post to communicate directly with employees.

Negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have stalled for 19 months, primarily over the issue of increasing part-time positions versus preserving full-time jobs. Canada Post, a Crown corporation facing financial losses, seeks to increase part-time work for efficiency and cost savings, while CUPW vehemently opposes this, viewing it as undermining the bargaining unit. The dispute escalated with CUPW filing an unfair labour practice complaint and Canada Post attempting to bypass union leadership.