After nine months of difficult negotiations, Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have reached tentative agreements in the ongoing labour dispute.
Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk, who held meetings with both sides before appointing a mediator, confirmed the proposed agreements were reached “voluntarily” but provided no additional details.
“I am pleased that Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have successfully reached new tentative agreements,” said Mihychuk. “This means that Canadian families and businesses can continue to rely on the postal service to be there for them when they need it.”
The Liberal MP said part of her role as labour minister is to assist parties in negotiations such as the one between Canada Post and the CUPW.
“That is why I closely monitored the situation, reaching out to the two sides over and over, urging them to work together,” she said.
ONGOING ORDEAL
The Crown corporation, which had threatened a lockout earlier this summer, said that the new agreements will only be valid for two years (instead of four years, which is common). The negotiations had been extended twice before reaching an agreement.
The tentative agreements must be ratified by about 50,000 CUPW members before being finalized into formal contracts.
“We can’t give details of the agreement at this time, but we’re pleased that our members don’t have to resort to taking job action,” said CUPW National President Mike Palecek.