The federal government has introduced what it’s calling an “imaginative” proposal to resolve the conflict between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
However, the two sides are seeing things quite differently.
Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon announced Friday that he had directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to “assess the likelihood of the parties reaching negotiated agreements by the end of 2024 under the current circumstances, and if the CIRB considers this unlikely, to order the Canada Post Corporation and all employees represented by CUPW to resume and continue their operations and duties.”
In response, the union railed against the government intervention.
“The union denounces in the strongest terms this assault on our constitutionally protected right to collectively bargain and strike,” reads a CUPW press release. “This order continues a deeply troubling pattern in which the government uses its arbitrary powers to let employers off the hook, drag their feet, and refuse to bargain in good faith with workers and their unions.”
The proposal would extend existing collective agreements until May 22, 2025.
MacKinnon is also appointing an Industrial Inquiry Commission to examine the issues of the current dispute and will provide recommendations by May 15, 2025.
“Canadians cannot continue to bear the consequences of this impasse. Our priority is to restore postal services while ensuring a fair balance between the rights of workers, those of the employer, but also those of Canadians,” said MacKinnon.
Canada Post was much more receptive to the news.
A Canada Post spokesperson told True North that it is currently reviewing the details of the announcement and is fully prepared to participate and comply with the minister’s directive.
“While that unfolds, we look forward to welcoming our employees back to work and serving Canadians and customers. We will take all appropriate steps to support that process as quickly as possible given the direction provided to us by the Minister,” said the spokesperson.
Details of the start-up plans for Canada Post will be provided on their website when available.
At a press conference Friday morning, MacKinnon said that negotiations between both parties were headed in the wrong direction.
During the strike, Canada Post has been unable to process an estimated one million parcels daily.
He added that small- and medium-sized businesses, charities relying on holiday fundraising, and rural Canadians have paid the greatest price.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business highlighted that the strike is costing small businesses $76.6 million daily – surpassing $1 billion on Dec. 4.
The Alberta government called for the Liberals to step in on Wednesday, highlighting that the cost has since reached $2 billion.
While MacKinnon repeatedly noted the harm to small businesses, he said that no law exists to provide any compensation to affected businesses for labour disputes.
“I do remind people that the right to strike, the right to lockout labour conflicts happen in a democratic and free society, and that those rights are fundamental,” he said.
He said he hoped activities would resume next week.
According to MacKinnon, 190,000 passports are waiting to be shipped. Additionally, 50,000 permanent resident cards are stuck in the mail. The Canada Revenue Agency has a backlog of 1.65 million pieces of personalized correspondence.
He reaffirmed that he was merely calling a timeout on the negotiations while the Canada Industrial Relations Board assesses the process. He said he wants to give collective bargaining a chance to succeed but that back-to-work legislation will be implemented temporarily if an agreement cannot be reached immediately.
The strike for 55,000 workers has been ongoing for 29 days as of Friday.