With negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) picking up again this week, County-based mail men and women say they’re hopeful of getting back to work soon, with holiday season in full swing.
It’s been 21 days since more than 55,000 postal workers nationwide walked off the job, shutting down the country’s postal system. Employees have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2023.
After talks between the two parties broke down Nov. 26, Canada Post spokesperson Phil Legault said the union was presented with “a comprehensive framework for reaching negotiated agreements” on Dec. 1.
“This includes proposals to bring greater flexibility to the corporation’s delivery model, while also demonstrating movement on other key issues,” Legault said. “It is our hope these proposals will reignite discussions and, together with the support of mediators, help the parties work toward final agreements.”
No further details have been shared, though Doug Ford, president of CUPW local 564 covering Haliburton County, indicated the offer doesn’t go far enough.
“The union shared the framework isn’t really touching on the key issues we’re far apart on,” Ford said.
Last month, the Crown corporation offered an 11.5 per cent wage increase over the next four years, while also including protections for defined benefit and pension plans for current employees.
Nine workers who deliver in Haliburton, Minden, Bracebridge, Kinmount, and Sunderland were in front of the Minden post office Nov. 28 talking to people about why they’re striking.
“It’s very hard on all of us – it’s getting colder out, Christmas is coming. None of us really wants to be here. We don’t understand why we have to keep fighting. We’ve been doing our jobs,” said Dolly, who works in the County.
“It’s mentally draining being here,” added Laura, another local worker. “Nobody gains from a strike. I think the thing we’re finding hardest to accept is the fact the CEO and executives are sitting up there telling us what to do, telling us about all the money the company is losing… well, they’re making way more than we do.”
Canada Post reported losses of $315 million for the third quarter of 2024, and $3 billion since 2018.
Dolly said she’s worried about her pension and benefits but noted she’s also fighting for worker equity.
“I want to make sure we’re all equally paid – we do the same job, yet we have rural routers being paid differently from urban. We should be equal all the way and we’ve been fighting for this for years,” Dolly said.
Ford noted in an earlier interview that all previous Canada Post offers had included a clause that would create a two-tiered pay scale, with new workers starting at a reduced wage.
With the company looking to transition to a seven-day work week, saying that’s needed to compete with Amazon, Dolly said most workers don’t have a problem with that.
“We’re willing to work with that – we just want to see a plan, to make sure everything is done properly. Until then, we’re strong,” Dolly said. “CUPW is the union that brought maternity leave to Canada, so if we can do that, we can do other things too.”
Laura added, “this isn’t just about us. This is for the people coming through who will take our spots. We need to keep jobs secure for the younger generations, because there aren’t many left anymore.”
