Canada Post is holding last-ditch discussions with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) to ensure smooth delivery during holiday season. Timely delivery during this season is critical for retailers, charities and Canadians.
Canada Post has proposed a cooling-off period in January that would put an end rotating strikes and introduce a discussion process to achieve a final resolution.
“With the rotating strikes, resulting backlogs, and the massive Black Friday and Cyber Monday volumes that will arrive within days, we are trying everything we can to work together with the union – urgently – to deliver the holidays to Canadians,” says Jessica McDonald, Chair of the Board of Directors and Interim President and CEO of Canada Post. “This proposal also includes a way for the parties to resolve their differences and these negotiations.”
If CUPW withdraws the strike, the Corporation could start dealing with the huge backlog that is threatening to disrupt the holiday season delivery.
The following are the main proposals.
A cooling-off period, effective immediately and lasting until 31 January 2019, which is past the holiday peak volumes, as well as high volumes driven by Boxing Day sales and the return of holiday purchases in January. During the cooling-off period, CUPW would not strike or take any other job action, and the Corporation would not lock out employees.
Immediately starting further mediation with a jointly-agreed, government-appointed mediator until the end of the cooling-off period.
A special payment of up to $1,000 for CUPW-represented employees that would be paid at the end of January if there is no labour disruption before the cooling-off period ends.
To reinstate both collective agreements with CUPW, including all employee benefits, for the duration of the cooling-off period.
If agreements have not been reached by January 31, the mediator would submit recommendations for settlement. If they are not adopted by the parties, binding arbitration would be introduced.