Canada Post will be in a position to lock out its employees as of Friday.
The corporation gave 72 hours notice to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers yesterday after talks between the two sides broke down. It says as of Friday the terms and conditions of the current collective agreements will no longer apply. It states that the issuing of the notice, however, doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t be operating on Friday.
“It allows the Corporation to take measures that are necessary to respond to the changing business reality,” the Canada Post statement reads.
Workers have been without a contract since January. Wage parity and pensions have been the most contentious issue for the two sides. Canada Post wants to change pensions for all new hires. CUPW wants its rural and urban letter carriers to be paid the same.
President of CUPW Mike Palacek says they will not be bullied by a corporation that is supposed to be providing people with public service, that is raking in millions in profits every year, and that is willfully and needlessly waging war upon tens of thousands of workers and their families.
“We knew this was their game all along. They are sabatoging the public review of the post office. They refused to negotiate fairly with us and now they’re locking the doors and will try to starve us into submission,” Palacek says.
On Monday, Canada Post told CUPW that the offers presented just over a week ago are considered to be final, saying they “represent a fair and reasonable framework for settlements.”
