workers will stop delivering flyers or neighbourhood mail starting Sept. 15 at midnight in an effort to escalate
as negotiations near the two-yea
r mark, Canadian Union of Postal Workers
(CUPW) announced Friday.
The move will replace CUPW’s overtime ban, which has been in effect since May 23.
“We’ve been left with no choice but to change our strike activity with the hope that Canada Post finally takes us seriously and returns to the bargaining table,” said CUPW national president Jan Simpson.
After the announcement on Friday, Canada Post said it was “disappointed” in the union’s decision to ban the delivery of neighbourhood mail and had only learned about it through CUPW’s news conference that day.
“This latest strike activity will only increase the uncertainty that is having a major impact on the business,” the company said in a statement.
It said the action will affect thousands of Canadian businesses as well as CUPW-represented employees who are paid to deliver flyers on top of their wages.
The union said Canada Post has shown “no urgency to resolve the dispute.”
Simpson said the crown corporation has had the union’s global offers since Aug. 20. She said CUPW had been issued an ultimatum to change its offers or Canada Post would walk away with no commitment to return.
“That’s not bargaining,” she added.
Canada Post said CUPW’s most recent offers either maintained or hardened its position on many items, adding significant new costs.
“We encourage CUPW to come back with workable solutions that reflect our current reality and get the parties closer to a resolution,” Canada Post said. “We’re disappointed that the union chose not to do so, and instead chose strike activity that will have further negative impacts on the company.”
CUPW represents approximately 55,000 workers at Canada Post, including carriers, postal clerks, mail handlers, dispatchers, technicians, mechanics and electricians.
Canada Post has been in negotiations with its postal workers for the last 21 months.
The company recently reported a
second-quarter loss of $407 million
, its largest loss before taxes in a single quarter.
On Aug. 27, Canada Post and CUPW returned to the bargaining table but did not reach an agreement. Union members rejected what the company called its “final” offer, while Canada Post is demanding concessions.
• Email: dpaglinawan@postmedia.com
