Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to review the ongoing conflict between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Canada Post, warning that depending on the result, he could order employees back to work.He said that if the board finds negotiations are unlikely to result in a solution any time soon, the terms of the existing collective agreement would be enforced until May 2025.."After months of conciliation and mediation supported by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, work stoppages and the subsequent appointment of a special mediator to assist with negotiations of their new collective bargaining agreements, Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers remain at an impasse and are unable to reach agreements," MacKinnon wrote in a statement. "I have asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to assess the likelihood of the parties reaching negotiated agreements by the end of 2024 under the current circumstances."He went on to explain that if the board determines that progress is unlikely, he would order Canada Post employees back to work. In that case, an Industrial Inquiry Commission would be appointed to "examine the issues preventing the resolution of the current labour dispute" and "provide recommendations by May 15, 2025, on how new collective bargaining agreements can be reached.""Canadians cannot continue to bear the consequences of this impasse," MacKinnon declared. "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."Postal workers have been on strike for nearly four weeks, impacting the lives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to review the ongoing conflict between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Canada Post, warning that depending on the result, he could order employees back to work.He said that if the board finds negotiations are unlikely to result in a solution any time soon, the terms of the existing collective agreement would be enforced until May 2025.."After months of conciliation and mediation supported by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, work stoppages and the subsequent appointment of a special mediator to assist with negotiations of their new collective bargaining agreements, Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers remain at an impasse and are unable to reach agreements," MacKinnon wrote in a statement. "I have asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to assess the likelihood of the parties reaching negotiated agreements by the end of 2024 under the current circumstances."He went on to explain that if the board determines that progress is unlikely, he would order Canada Post employees back to work. In that case, an Industrial Inquiry Commission would be appointed to "examine the issues preventing the resolution of the current labour dispute" and "provide recommendations by May 15, 2025, on how new collective bargaining agreements can be reached.""Canadians cannot continue to bear the consequences of this impasse," MacKinnon declared. "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."Postal workers have been on strike for nearly four weeks, impacting the lives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
