Canada Post staff will legally be in a strike position this Friday if no agreement is reached in the labour negotiations between the Crown corporation and its workers’ union.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said in a statement Tuesday morning that it has issued a 72-hour strike notice, but it remains unclear if employees will walk off the job.
“Although we’ve given notice to Canada Post, the National Executive Board has not yet determined whether job action will take place immediately,” the union said.“It will depend on Canada Post’s actions at the bargaining table in the days to come.”
For almost a year, the CUPW has been bargaining new contracts for the urban operations unit and the rural and suburban mail carriers (RSMC) unit.
“Despite our best efforts, the parties remain far apart on many issues,” the union said.According to CUPW, the sticking points that remain unresolved include: wage increases, adding paid medical day to personal days, increased coverage for health specialists, fertility treatment, gender-affirming care, vision care as well as precautionary cessation of work for pregnant and breastfeeding employees.
Canada Post also confirmed in a statement Tuesday that it had received strike notices for CUPW’s urban operations unit and the rural and suburban mail carriers (RSMC) unit.
“The notices indicate that CUPW intends to begin strike activity as of Friday, November 15 at 12:01 a.m. ET, unless the parties reach agreements before then,” Canada Post said.
“Our operations continue as normal at this time,” it added.