The war of words is heating up.
The union representing Canada Post’s 55,000 workers slammed the Crown corporation Tuesday, saying that it’s not interested in a fair arbitration process, and wants to “dictate the terms” of any new contract.
Canada Post, meanwhile, reiterated its request to federal jobs minister Patty Hajdu to force a vote on its “final” contract offer.
In a written statement Tuesday afternoon, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said Canada Post negotiators insisted Monday that any arbitration be based on a recent report from veteran mediator William Kaplan, a report the union said is “clearly tilted” in the Crown corporation’s favour.
“Rather than meeting us halfway, Canada Post was clearly unwilling to work with us to draft the terms. Canada Post has made it very clear it is not interested in a fair arbitration process,” CUPW said, while rejecting recommendation’s from Kaplan’s Industrial Inquiry Commission, “as they are clearly tilted in Canada Post’s favour.”
In a bulletin to members, CUPW national president Jan Simpson said the Crown corporation is counting on government intervention.
“Canada Post is not trying to resolve this impasse; it is trying to bypass it,” Simpson said. “Canada Post doesn’t want negotiated agreements. What it wants is to impose its own terms, through government processes, effectively gutting and rewriting our collective agreements by themselves.”
In a written statement, Canada Post said time has run out for arbitration, there’s a bargaining impasse, and that the only remaining option is for Hajdu to use her authority under the Canada Labour Code to order a vote.
“A negotiated agreement between the parties is always the preferred path to an employee ratification vote, however after 18 months the parties remain at an impasse and the union has not responded to our final offers presented on May 28,” Canada Post said. “The other option … is an employee-directed vote, which we have requested. Arbitration is a lengthy legal process that puts our future in the hands of others at a critical juncture, with employees having no say in the final result.”
A spokesperson for Hajdu said the minister’s office was still considering the request for a forced vote.
“The Minister’s team is reviewing the request to direct a vote on the employer’s latest offers,” said Hajdu spokesperson Jennifer Kozelj, adding that a negotiated settlement is still the preferred option. “The parties have a responsibility to work through their issues and reach a deal that works for both sides.”
Forcing a vote on the final offer is no panacea, said Stephanie Ross, a labour studies professor at McMaster University. For union members who might ordinarily like what’s on the table, being ordered to vote could push them in the other direction.
“A final offer vote is always a risk too because it can rally the troops reaction,” said Ross, adding that if the offer were rejected, negotiations would be right back where things are now, but with even more bad blood.
Kaplan’s report — delivered May 15 to Hajdu — came at the request of then-federal labour minister Steven MacKinnon last December, who also ordered a pause of a 32-day strike.
Earlier this month, Canada Post rejected the union’s request for binding arbitration, saying it would take too long, and could exacerbate their financial struggles.
On May 28, Canada Post made what it called its “final” contract offer, which includes a 13 per cent wage increase spread over four years, as well as a $1,000 signing bonus. Two days later, it asked Hajdu to order a vote on the offer, a request blasted by CUPW.
Last week, CUPW filed a complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board accusing the Crown corporation of doing an end-run around the union to negotiate directly with workers and “purposefully trying to discredit the reputation of the union.”
The complaint also asks the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order damages be paid to the union.
The Crown corporation said it had every right to communicate with its workers, and said it will fight the complaint.
CUPW members have been in a legal strike position since May 23, but their strike action has thus far been limited to a ban on overtime work.
Kaplan’s May 15 report said Canada Post was effectively insolvent, and suggested the use of community mailboxes, the elimination of home delivery except for parcels, and getting rid of some post office locations and replacing them with franchises.
Kaplan also suggested expanding parcel delivery to seven days a week, with the use of part-time and temporary employees.
