Canada Post has formally asked the federal Minister of Jobs and Families to direct a vote on its final contract proposals to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), citing a prolonged deadlock in collective bargaining. The corporation made the request under section 108.1 of the Canada Labour Code, which would allow the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to oversee a vote by CUPW-represented employees.The request comes after more than 18 months of negotiations covering both Urban and Rural and Suburban Mail Carrier (RSMC) bargaining units. Despite months of conciliation, mediation, and the use of both traditional and experimental bargaining methods, the parties remain at an impasse. This includes a process called integrative bargaining, aimed at encouraging more open dialogue, as well as the recent release of a final report by the Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC).Canada Post says it agrees with the IIC’s conclusion that the best collective agreements are those negotiated directly between the parties, rather than imposed through arbitration. However, it contends that CUPW’s current stance makes negotiated agreements impossible without employee intervention through a direct vote.“After more than 18 months of collective bargaining, we believe the best hope of achieving freely negotiated collective agreements is an employee vote,” the corporation said in its statement.The labour impasse has already had far-reaching effects. Canada Post attributes a $208 million impact to a 32-day strike at the end of 2024, part of its $841 million loss before tax that year. The company also reports a sharp drop in business, noting that its parcel volume is down by two-thirds compared to the same period last year following the resumption of CUPW strike activity in May 2025.The IIC report, released earlier this month, described Canada Post as facing an “existential crisis,” saying the corporation is “effectively insolvent” and needs “immediate changes” to avoid further financial deterioration. It outlined seven recommendations aimed at ensuring both operational sustainability and the preservation of jobs. Canada Post asserts its final offers fully incorporate those recommendations and include key concessions intended to move negotiations forward.The corporation says CUPW’s current demands are incompatible with the IIC findings, and accuses the union of walking back tentative agreements reached earlier this year.At this stage, the corporation awaits a decision from the minister on whether to direct the CIRB to conduct the vote. Canada Post says it will respect the outcome of that decision.
