The federal labour minister is urging Canada Post and its workers’ union to quickly resolve a nearly two-week nationwide strike that has disrupted mail and parcel services across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon expressed his disappointment after mediated talks were temporarily suspended. In a statement, he emphasized that he expects both parties to approach negotiations with a renewed sense of urgency.
The special mediator appointed by the federal government indicated that, after several days of intense discussions, the two sides are still significantly apart on crucial issues, making mediation ineffective at this time. MacKinnon hopes this pause will allow both parties to reassess their positions and return to the negotiating table ready to make progress.
After eight days of negotiations under mediation without any advancements, MacKinnon acknowledged his frustration. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has called on the government to intervene and either impose binding arbitration or enact back-to-work legislation. However, MacKinnon stated that binding arbitration is not currently being considered, although he did not rule it out in the future if the situation does not improve.
Negotiations have reportedly stalled on key issues, including wage increases and staffing levels, with Canada Post noting that talks with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have ground to a halt. A spokesperson for Canada Post mentioned that the union has not been responding to their proposals, leading to a lack of progress.
The impact of the strike has been significant, with over 55,000 workers having walked off the job since November 15, coinciding with the crucial holiday shopping season. Nearly 10 million parcels are currently delayed, and the strike has resulted in the closure of some post offices. As the dispute continues, CUPW’s national president, Jan Simpson, criticized Canada Post for failing to respond to union demands, accusing them of attempting to sway public opinion against postal workers.
As the situation develops, both sides remain at an impasse, and the urgency to resolve this labour conflict grows as the holiday season approaches.
