Canada Post says it’s nonetheless ready for a response from the postal staff’ union on its newest contract supply forward of anticipated talks this weekend, as a nationwide strike looms.
The Canadian Union of Postal Employees (CUPW), in the meantime, mentioned Saturday it was nonetheless reviewing the Crown company’s newest supply, whereas persevering with with an overtime ban that marked an initial step in job action late this week.
“CUPW negotiators are working laborious to rigorously consider the affords and put together a response,” the union advised International Information in a press release.
“The union is anticipating to satisfy with the employer and the mediators this weekend.”
Nevertheless, a Canada Put up spokesperson recommended {that a} timetable for these weekend talks has but to be finalized.
“We’ve not but heard from CUPW about becoming a member of us on the desk with the mediator this weekend,” spokesperson Lisa Liu mentioned in an e mail. “We stay able to obtain a response to our world affords.”
Canada Put up offered new affords to the union on Wednesday. The Crown company refused CUPW’s request for a two-week interval — which the union referred to Saturday as a “truce” — to assessment the affords.
“As an alternative, CUPW was given only a day to hurry by way of the content material of the affords, wholly insufficient to have the ability to rigorously contemplate the detailed, authorized wording of the 700-page affords,” the union assertion mentioned.
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“If instability hangs over these negotiations, it’s as a consequence of Canada Put up’s uncompromising stance and time administration.”
The 2 sides final met on the negotiating desk Thursday with the help of mediators. Canada Put up mentioned the assembly lasted lower than half an hour, with CUPW “elevating solely a small variety of the various excellent points in a casual method.”
The nationwide mail service mentioned earlier this week that clients “could expertise delays” from the union’s time beyond regulation ban, which started at midnight Friday.
Below the time beyond regulation ban, the union says along with refusing to work greater than a sure variety of hours, letter carriers are additionally to return to their depot and drop off their mail, whether or not they have accomplished their routes or not. Rural and suburban mail carriers are to do the identical.
Half-time and momentary staff are allowed to increase their hours to a most of eight hours per day, 40 hours per week, the union mentioned.
“It’s unclear how CUPW’s strike motion could evolve,” Canada Put up wrote in a information launch Friday. “Presently, there are not any rotating strikes or nationwide work stoppage.”
Collective agreements between Canada Put up and CUPW expired on Thursday, and the union issued a 72-hour strike discover to the Crown company on Monday.
At problem between the 2 sides are key calls for on employee pay, using momentary staff, weekend supply, advantages and pensions, and the way Canada Put up might meet a “crucial monetary state of affairs” that consultants have mentioned might go “the route of Blockbuster.”
The newest supply from the nationwide postal service features a wage enhance of six per cent in 12 months one, three per cent in 12 months two, two per cent in 12 months three and two per cent in 12 months 4. This might be a compounded enhance of 13.59 per cent over 4 years, Canada Put up mentioned in a press release on Wednesday.
The corporate can be providing to make adjustments to its part-time employment system.
— with information from International’s Sean Previl
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