They’re still talking.
Canada Post and the union representing 53,000 postal workers remain at the bargaining table, which could mean they’re closing in on a contract agreement after a 20-month dispute which has already led to two national strikes, labour experts say.
“If both sides are out at the microphone blaming each other, there’s nothing getting done at the table,” said York University labour studies professor Steven Tufts. “The less we know, usually the stronger the sign it is that they’re getting closer.”
McMaster University labour studies professor Stephanie Ross agreed that at least on the surface, there seems to be cause for cautious optimism.
“It certainly seems like there’s been more continuous negotiations than there’s been for a long time,” said Ross. “If they were really far apart, what’s the point of talking?”
At this time last year, CUPW members were out on the picket lines for their first of two national strikes.
Still, said Ross, even if negotiators reach a tentative deal, there’s no guarantee that CUPW members will ratify it. Different internal constituencies at the union — leaders or members, younger workers or older workers — have different priorities, she said.
“There’s a whole internal world that’s trying to balance these different needs and interests,” said Ross. “And that’s as complex as the negotiations going on between the union and the employer.”
Right now, neither Canada Post nor the Canadian Union of Postal Workers is shedding light on what issues are still being discussed at the table with a federally-appointed mediator.
“The parties are continuing their dialogue to see how we can move the negotiations forward,” Canada Post said in a written statement Thursday. “We are committed to reaching negotiated settlements and understand the importance of providing certainty for employees and Canadians.”
CUPW didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment, but earlier this week confirmed that it was still in talks.
“CUPW has continued to meet with Canada Post and the Federal mediators to further explore the potential for new collective agreements for both postal bargaining units,” CUPW said in a bulletin on its website Tuesday evening.
In another bulletin the next day, however, the union also said it continued to be opposed to major job cuts at the financially-struggling Crown corporation.
Those cuts, the union said, would be the result of a broad-based restructuring which the federal government gave the green light to in late September.
That restructuring includes the elimination of home mail delivery, increased use of community mailboxes, and the closure of some rural post offices.
Earlier this month, Canada Post gave the government its implementation plan for the restructuring, but has yet to make it public.
“The resulting job loss from these cuts will be catastrophic for many small communities given that in many places working for the post office is the only good job that remains. Post office closures would mean that people may have to travel many more kilometres to get their mail and ship their parcels,” CUPW said. “The reality is we do not need these cuts for Canada Post to return to financial stability. … In fact, the cuts will cost billions of dollars to implement, when instead that money could be spent on expanding services and generating new forms of revenue, as many Canadians have requested.”
If the union is still fighting a rearguard action aimed at keeping all its members employed, said Tufts, a deal could be very difficult to reach. If, however, it’s more focused on what working conditions in a future post office will be like, the gap is far more likely to be closed, he added.
“Has there been a shift in the union’s strategy away from bargaining to keep the postal services of the past, towards bargaining for the working conditions of the future?” asked Tufts. “That’s the biggest question right now.”
During Canada Post’s annual public meeting this week, the Crown corporation said it has racked up more than $1 billion in operating losses this year, with $535 million of that coming in the third quarter alone.
At the same time, CEO Doug Ettinger said 16,000 Canada Post employees are expected to retire or take voluntary departure by 2030, and another 14,000 by 2035.
