Ottawa (with files from Canadian Press/CityNews) – The Christmas mail will be delivered, as well as your bills and cheques.
In a CUPW statement from Jan Simpson, National President on November 21:
After more than two years of negotiations, we have reached agreements in principle with Canada Post covering both postal bargaining units.
This means both sides have agreed on the main points of the deals, but we need to agree on the contractual language that will form the collective agreements that would be put to a vote by the members.
Under the terms of the agreements in principle with CPC, our current collective agreements shall continue to remain in full force and effect. Upon signing the agreements, the Union agrees to pause its strike action, and the Employer agrees to suspend its right to lockout. The Union will retain the right to strike until new agreements are ratified.
Should the Tentative Agreements not be reached because the parties disagree on how the agreement in principle is reflected in language provisions, the suspension will be lifted for both parties, and the Union may continue strike activity.
Both sides have sparred the last few years over wage hikes and structural changes to the postal service’s workforce, including proposals to introduce more part-time workers and seven-day-a-week delivery.
Postal workers have taken to the picket line on multiple occasions, including a disruptive strike ahead of the holidays last year.
The announcement comes on the same day the Crown corporation reported the highest quarterly loss in its history on Friday.
After starting the year with a $1-billion federal loan, Canada Post says it will need another bailout within a month or two as the Crown corporation continues to hemorrhage cash.
