As the nationwide postal strike hit the four-week mark Friday, federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon announced he’s sending the labour dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
Here’s a brief recap of how things got to this point.
What led to the strike?
CUPW said the strike was necessary after Canada Post “refused to negotiate real solutions to the issues postal workers face every day.”
As the strike began, Canada Post warned in a statement that it would “cause delays for Canadians as holiday shopping season begins.”
Mail carrier Jeff Mathew carries a Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) flag as he runs along the front of a picket line of striking Canada Post workers in Surrey, B.C., last month. (Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters)
When did the strike begin?
At 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.
Have mediators been involved?
Federal mediation was put on hold Nov. 27 after mediators concluded the sides were too far apart.
What about Ottawa’s involvement?
On Friday, MacKinnon said he was sending the labour dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). If the board determines a deal isn’t in reach by the end of the year, it would order the nearly 55,000 workers back to work under their current contract until May 22, 2025.
WATCH | Strike’s impact on local communities:
“We’re calling a time out,” the minister said Friday.
“Suffice to say positions appeared to have hardened and it became clear to me we were in a total impasse.”
In the meantime, MacKinnon said he will appoint an industrial inquiry commission to look into the bargaining issues.
It will have until May 15 to come up with recommendations on how a new agreement could be reached.
What about Canada Post service?
Canada Post operations have halted during the strike.
MacKinnon said he hopes the CIRB will act quickly, and if it agrees with his conclusions, it could “order a resumption of activities of Canada Post that could happen as early as early next week.”
How rare is this kind of intervention?
Ottawa used Section 107 of the Labour Code to make its move Friday, after using the same powers to intervene earlier this year in disputes at the country’s railways and ports, directing the CIRB to order workers back to work and to order binding arbitration.
It’s a move that sparked legal challenges from the unions involved and that labour experts and advocates have said erodes workers’ bargaining rights.
This time, the government’s use of Section 107 is “more restrained,” said Alison Braley-Rattai, an associate professor of labour studies at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.
Was this anticipated?
Business groups have been calling on the government to intervene — though Canada Post had not. Up until Friday, MacKinnon insisted intervention wasn’t in the cards.
Braley-Rattai said she isn’t surprised the government ended up stepping in because the dispute “has been going on for a very long time.”
WATCH | Decision ‘extremely frustrating’ for CUPW members:
MacKinnon called the move a creative solution because it does not send the matter directly to binding arbitration — as the government did in the disputes with the railways and ports.
He said this doesn’t guarantee a deal will be in reach by May, but that he hoped the inquiry could show a path forward that works for both Canada Post and its workers.
How have the 2 sides reacted?
CUPW issued a statement denouncing MacKinnon’s move “in the strongest terms,” and calling the decision an “assault on our constitutionally protected right to collectively bargain and to strike.”
The union said it’s reviewing the labour minister’s order and is considering its options.
Canada Post said it was reviewing the details of Friday’s announcement “to ensure we are prepared to fully participate in the process and comply with the minister’s directive.”
Is this about wages?
The two sides are negotiating a number of issues — wages being one of them.
CUPW negotiators met with Canada Post on Monday — the first time the two sides have met since the federal mediation effort halted. The union said it issued separate demands for its urban mail carriers and its rural and suburban mail carriers, but made the following combined demands for both groups:
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Wage increases of nine per cent, four per cent, three per cent and three per cent over four years.
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A cost-of-living allowance.
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Ten medical days in addition to seven days of personal leave.
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An increase in short-term disability payments to 80 per cent of regular wages.
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Improved rights for temporary workers and on-call relief employees.
CUPW national president Jan Simpson said Friday the union has not heard back from Canada Post about its revised demands. She accused the Crown corporation of dragging its heels so the federal government would step in.
“Right now, we’re having discussions internally on what we are going to do. But right now, the members are still holding the picket lines strong because they are still fighting for fair wages, to retire with dignity and improve health and safety,” Simpson told CBC News on Friday.
In a statement shared with CBC News, a spokesperson for Canada Post said the Crown corporation is “extremely disappointed” with the union’s latest offer.
Earlier this week, Canada Post acknowledged the union had moved on its wage demands, but said they were still not affordable for the corporation.