Canada Post, postal workers reach agreement to end strike action

After more than two years of negotiations, both Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have reached agreements in principle covering the union’s urban and rural bargaining units.

The union said 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 those terms, the current collective agreements shall remain in full force and effect, the union said. Upon signing the agreements, the union will pause its strike action and the employer will suspend its right to lock out. The union retains the right to strike until the new agreements are ratified.

“If the tentative agreements are not 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,” the union statement said.

“This round of bargaining has been a challenging one. But members have stood together for strong public services, good jobs and a sustainable post office,” it added.

In its own statement, Canada Post confirmed the parties have reached agreements in principle, but still need to finalise tentative collective agreements for signing.

“While we do so, we have agreed that all strike/lockout activity is suspended,” the company said, adding that it will make no additional comment while finalisation is underway.

The announcement marks a truce of sorts in a dispute that had seen rotating strikes and full shutdowns across the country. Earlier this autumn Canada Post said it would restart limited mail operations as CUPW shifted from a national walk-out to rotating strikes, beginning Oct. 11.

Mail and parcel delivery had been halted during a full shutdown that began Sept. 25, the company noted. Canadians were warned to expect delays as the system restarted and to brace for continued instability while negotiations continued.

With the agreements in principle in hand, there is cautious optimism that the parties will conclude the language-negotiation phase, present tentative agreements for vote and restore full postal service nationwide.