As Canada Post workers begin their second day of legal strike action by refusing to work overtime, the Crown corporation says it is ready to negotiate this weekend but is waiting on word from the union.
“We have not yet heard from CUPW about joining us at the table with the mediator this weekend,” said Lisa Liu, a Canada Post spokesperson. “We remain ready to receive a response to our global offers.”
A source within the federal government confirmed on Saturday morning that both sides are expected to meet in the Ottawa area Saturday and Sunday but could not elaborate on the timing.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) did not provide a new comment when reached Saturday morning, but re-shared Friday’s statement, saying it remains “unwavering in our determination to reach negotiated and ratifiable agreements” for its rural and suburban mail carriers as well as members of its urban postal operations.
“Canada Post rejected our proposal for a two-week truce so the union could carefully evaluate and reply to the detailed, legal wording of the over 700-page offers they sent the day before the deadline,” CUPW’s statement said.
“We’re ready to go back to the bargaining table to get the agreements our postal workers and communities deserve.”
Canada Post said parcel volumes have dropped by 50 per cent since the union issued a 72-hour strike notice last Monday.
The union’s decision to not have its members walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. Friday, and the Crown corporation’s decision to not lock its workers out is also a good sign, said Stephanie Ross, a labour studies professor at McMaster University.
On Friday morning, federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu posted on X that CUPW and the Crown corporation should use a report delivered by veteran mediator William Kaplan to reach a negotiated settlement.
