While Canada Post and the union representing 53,000 postal workers are still at the bargaining table, labour experts say it’s still not clear if the two sides are close to reaching a deal to end a 20-month contract dispute.
And with the busy holiday season approaching, some business customers are voting with their feet.
In an emailed statement Wednesday, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said it’s still hopeful of reaching an agreement, and has been negotiating with the financially-troubled Crown corporation through a federally-appointed mediator.
“The Canadian Union of Postal Workers wants to put labour uncertainty behind us which is why we are trying to achieve ratifiable negotiated settlements at the bargaining table,” CUPW said. “We’re fighting for public services, good jobs and a sustainable public post office.”
At this time last year, CUPW was busy launching a national strike — the first of two within a year.
The Crown corporation acknowledged the continuing negotiations in a written statement, and stressed that it’s hoping to finally provide some certainty for its customers.
“The parties have continued their dialogue…to see how we can move the negotiations forward. We are committed to reaching negotiated settlements and understand the importance of providing certainty for employees and Canadians,” Canada Post said.
Still, the Crown corporation acknowledged, with rotating regional strikes still going on, there’s no guarantee of exactly when letters or parcels will be delivered.
“Shutting down and restarting parts of our integrated national network with rotating strikes has always challenged our ability to provide reliable service to customers. As a result, all service guarantees are suspended, including on-time delivery guarantees for parcel services,” Canada Post said.
That uncertainty, combined with lingering frustration over last winter’s national strike — and another one earlier this year — have led many small business customers to take their deliveries elsewhere, said Dan Kelly, CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
“If you had last year’s holiday disrupted because of the strike, you’re going to think twice about using Canada Post,” said Kelly, adding that even if a deal is reached before the holidays, much of the damage has already been done.
“That’s going to have a long tail effect, even if they get a deal. It’s once bitten, twice shy,” said Kelly.
For some small businesses, there’s another hit from the uncertainty, Kelly added — many of them advertise via flyers or catalogues delivered by Canada Post. And that kind of direct mail has also been subject to rotating regional bans.
“That’s having a huge impact,” Kelly said.
In late September, the federal government gave the green light for a broad restructuring of Canada Post, including the elimination of home delivery, increased use of community mailboxes, and elimination of some rural post offices. Last week, the Crown corporation gave the federal government its implementation plan for the restructuring, but says it won’t make details public until the plan is finalized and approved.
That makes it more difficult for CUPW to reach a deal it can sell to its members, argued York University labour studies professor Steven Tufts.
“Politically, I think it’s very difficult for CUPW to get an agreement at the table before the full details of the restructuring. You’re negotiating blind,” said Tufts.
At the same time, Canada Post is less likely to reach a deal if it doesn’t know the ground rules of exactly how it will restructure, Tufts added.
“I can see why both sides really are slow-walking it right now,” said Tufts. “The government needed a much deeper plan and look at Canada Post before this round of bargaining took place. They really needed a Royal Commission.”
