Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu called on Canada Post to swiftly present a new proposal to the striking postal workers’ union. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) initiated strike action following Ottawa’s announcement of significant operational changes at the Crown corporation to address its financial challenges.
These changes entail discontinuing daily mail delivery, shuttering select rural post offices, and transitioning most Canadian households to community mailboxes — measures the union perceives as a direct assault on its members. Minister Hajdu, in an interview with The Canadian Press, did not rule out potential federal intervention to resolve the ongoing strike. However, she emphasized the importance of Canada Post promptly offering a new proposal and urged the union to seriously consider any forthcoming offers.
Hajdu stressed the necessity for the corporation and the union, after nearly two years of negotiations, to collaboratively plan a sustainable future for Canada Post. She emphasized the urgency for both parties to expedite discussions once a new offer is presented.
Canada Post had been preparing to introduce a revised offer on Friday, taking into account the government’s recent directives. Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton acknowledged a significant disparity between the corporation and the union, indicating that the revised offer would align with the government’s reforms aimed at stabilizing the postal service and lessening the financial burden on taxpayers.
The financial predicament of Canada Post is dire, with reported daily losses exceeding $10 million during the summer due to prolonged labor uncertainty. The company has relied on federal assistance to sustain its operations in recent years. An industrial inquiry commission report earlier in the year highlighted the corporation’s financial insolvency, proposing various measures to ensure its viability, which the government fully embraced in its recent announcement.
CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant acknowledged the union’s understanding of Canada Post’s financial struggles but criticized the government’s proposed solutions as extreme. The union aims to leverage the nationwide strike to compel the government to reconsider its overhaul of Canada Post and conduct a public mandate review.
While the Canadian Federation of Independent Business warned of the strike’s significant impact on small enterprises dependent on Canada Post services, it expressed support for the government’s planned reforms.