Following two weeks of voting, almost 70% of employees represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have rejected final contract offers from Canada Post, with negotiations remaining unresolved.
The Urban bargaining unit voted 68.5% and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers bargaining unit voted 69.4% in favor of rejecting the offer. The results come after months of what CUPW called “scare tactics and fearmongering from Canada Post”, with the union urging the postal operator to “come back to the bargaining table and start seriously negotiating”.
In a statement on its website, CUPW said, “With these votes behind us, Canada Post must now recognize that the only way forward is to negotiate ratifiable collective agreements that meet postal workers’ needs. The time for games is over.
“Our negotiators are ready to get back to work right away. We’re committed to staying at the table until we’ve reached a deal. We expect the same from Canada Post. And we’re calling on the government to prove to postal workers that it really respects the collective bargaining process, like it says it does. If the government truly respects unions and collective bargaining, it will keep out. No more back-to-work orders. No more forced votes. In the meantime, our national overtime ban remains in effect.”
Canada Post said it was “disappointed” about the results but thanked employees for participating and the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) for administering the vote.
“This result does not lessen the urgent need to modernize and protect this vital national service,” the post said in a statement on its website. “However, it does mean the uncertainty that has been significantly impacting our business – and the many Canadians and Canadian businesses who depend on Canada Post – will continue. We are evaluating our next steps.”