Canada Post Work Stoppage Could Begin Friday
Published July 5, 2016 at 1:56 pm
When we last heard about the labour negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), there existed the possibility of a strike or lockout.
Now it seems Canada Post has issued a 72-hour lockout notice to the CUPW, meaning a work stoppage could be in effect starting Friday, according to a CityNews article.
Canada Post gave a statement early Tuesday, saying it plans to suspend the collective agreement as of Friday and blaming “prolonged negotiations, the union’s strike mandate and the financial cost of a rapid decline in mail volume.”
The company said that the lockout notice doesn’t necessarily mean it will shut down on Friday, but lets it take measures to respond to the changing circumstances of the business.
According to both sides, employee pension plans are a key aspect of the negotiations. However, Canada Post said the CUPW’s demands are not affordable and would add $1 billion in costs.
The CUPW had an understandably negative reaction to the lockout notice, saying 50,000 workers are being forced out of work until they are willing to accept the company’s terms.
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“They refused to negotiate fairly with us and now they’re locking the doors and will try to starve us into submission,” CityNews heard from CUPW president Mike Palecek.
Stay tuned for further updates on Friday’s potential work stoppage.
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