FILE TO READ | Strike at Canada Post
The Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered postal workers to return to work after holding hearings over the weekend. These hearings aimed to determine whether the parties were too far apart to reach a negotiated agreement by the end of the year.
These hearings took place following a directive from federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon, who announced last Friday that he was giving both parties a “pause” as negotiations appeared to be at a standstill. The minister estimated that Canadians were “fed up” with the strike on the eve of the holiday season.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, however, contests Ottawa’s intervention and indicates that the Canada Industrial Relations Board should hear its arguments in mid-January.
The federal government already faces legal challenges over similar interventions in two high-profile labor disputes earlier this year, at the railways and ports.
Canada Post has already warned its customers that they will have to expect delays while it tackles backlogs in sorting and distribution centers. Delays could persist until early 2025.
“Given the vast scale of its integrated network of processing establishments, letter carriers and post offices, the company asks Canadians to be patient, as stabilization will take time,” warned Monday the Crown corporation in a press release.
“Canada Post will begin processing mail and packages stuck in the network since the start of the strike on November 15 on a first-in, first-out basis,” it says.
In the meantime, post offices will not accept new letters or packages until Thursday.
Conflict still unresolved
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to simmer between Canada Post and its employees.
The main issues include salary increases and Canada Post’s desire to extend parcel delivery on weekends — the two parties do not agree on how to staff the necessary staff for this new service offering.
The loss-making Crown corporation touted the expansion as a way to increase revenue and compete with other carriers, arguing that a mix of part-time and full-time shifts would create flexibility while reducing costs . The union believes this approach threatens full-time positions.
The government has appointed a commission of inquiry into labor relations at the Post Office, which will have to look “also at the structural questions of the conflict” and publish a report by May 15 on how to conclude a new agreement.
“The investigation will be broad in scope, as it will examine the entire structure of Canada Post from a customer and business model perspective, given the difficult business environment that Canada Post currently faces,” said Friday the Minister of Labor.
Also read: Return to Canada Post: when will I receive my package?
At a post office in downtown Fredericton, New Brunswick, on Tuesday morning, a steady stream of people began arriving around 9:30 a.m., although there was no line.
Mary Bardsley arrived with Christmas cards and a Tim Hortons gift card for her post office employees. She said she’s not worried her holiday mail will be delayed. “I’ve lived a long life,” she said, laughing. I can handle almost anything.”
Jon MacNeill, a Fredericton resident, said the 32-day strike “wasn’t the end of the world.”
“I was happy to wait for them to come back,” he said.
Mr. MacNeill said he normally avoids sending gifts, but plans to send some this year after part of his family moves to Newfoundland and Labrador.
“I didn’t bother going the private route because my family is pretty flexible…I think we’re lucky to have public services like this in Canada, and if we let’s not use them or support them, we may not always have them.”
