Bulletin #21
August 2, 2024
CUPW Files Notice of Dispute
Today – Friday August 2 – the Union filed two “Notices of Dispute” with the Minister of Labour, Steven MacKinnon. The National Executive Board did not take this decision lightly. The parties have been bargaining since November, but little progress has been made on the Union’s key issues. The Employer has given us no sign it will drop any of its major rollbacks or demands for a widening two-tier workforce. Additionally, the employer has not yet made a wage offer.
In filing a notice of dispute for each of the Urban and RSMC units, the Union is moving to the next step asking the Minister of Labour to help the parties overcome the bargaining impasse.
What Will it Take to Move Bargaining Forward?
From the start of Negotiations, the Employer has said that it has no interest in regaining market competitiveness “on the back of postal workers.” But given the list of rollbacks and changes still on the table, the Employer is acting in a way that is the opposite of their comments. We are not satisfied that the Employer is serious about this.
There are solutions to help move bargaining forward. The Employer must drop its rollbacks and come to the table with real solutions that will help grow the business, improve working conditions, and secure good jobs and benefits.
CUPW remains committed to achieving a negotiated settlement at the table and with the help of the Conciliator, the Negotiators will continue to make every effort to do this.
What Comes Next?
Under the Canada Labour Code, there are strict timelines that must be followed before a Union gains the right to strike or an employer the right to lockout:
• The Minister of Labour has 15 days to appoint a conciliator.
• Once the conciliator has been appointed, the conciliation process lasts at least 60 days.
• At the end of the 60-day conciliation, there is a 21-day “cooling-off” period.
• After the cooling-off period, the union or the employer must provide 72-hour notice of strike or lockout and for the Union, there must be a vote of the membership supporting a strike.
As of today, we are many steps and at least 81 days from being able to issue a strike notice.
In the coming weeks and months, we must all do our part to make sure Canada Post knows the Negotiators have our full support.
Remember, we are 55,000 strong, and together we are unstoppable!
Talks at the bargaining table continue.
To get updates on Negotiations and other Union news directly to your inbox, sign up for eDigest, at: https://www.cupw.ca/en/cupw-edigest .
In Solidarity,
Jan Simpson
National President
2023 – 2027 Bulletin #120