The strike began on Nov. 15, after the union said it made little progress after a year of bargaining
On day 29 of a strike between Canada Post and its employees, Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon is asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to assess the situation and order employees back to work if they think a deal will not be reached.
On Friday, MacKinnon released a statement in a post on X.
“I have asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to assess the likelihood of the parties reaching negotiated agreements by the end of 2024 under the current circumstances, and if the CIRB considers this unlikely, to order the Canada Post Corporation and all employees represented by CUPW to resume and continue their operations and duties, and to extend the terms of the existing agreements until May 22, 2025,” he said.
MacKinnon also said that government’s “preferred means of resolving disagreements between employers and workers” is collective bargaining, but the conflict between CUPW and Canada Post “has reached a critical point.”
“The service disruptions resulting from this conflict are having a significant impact on Canadians, small businesses, charities, seniors, Indigenous Peoples as well as more remote territories and communities,” he said.
While turning to the CIRB offers a “temporary solution,” MacKinnon said the government’s priority is for the two groups to come to a resolution.
He said he would appoint an Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC) “to examine the issues” of the dispute and ask for a list of recommendations by May 15, 2025.
Meanwhile, the union’s national president urged workers to stay strong.
“Every letter, package, and cheque you handle plays a crucial role in keeping communities connected and lives running smoothly. Yet, the significance of this work is often overlooked amid the routines and demands of daily life.”
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