Canada Post workers back strike threat over wage demands

Postal workers in Canada have voted overwhelmingly in favour of striking if Canada Post does not come forward with an acceptable wage deal. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said today that its members had accepted plans for a work stoppage with a 95.5% approval.

Canada Post said this afternoon that the vote did not necessarily mean a strike would happen, but that if it did, the earliest it could happen would be May 25.

Talks over a new collective bargaining agreement have been underway for six months, going into a conciliation process from January.

The union, which represents 54,000 members, is demanding above-inflation pay increases and better benefits, as well as job protection and improved working conditions. It points to the fact that Canada Post has posted 16 consecutive years of profit, and is currently modernising its network to make “huge” productivity improvements.

A strike vote was held from March 25 until yesterday, with CUPW National President Denis Lemelin claiming today that the “sky-high” approval from his members would put pressure on the Crown Corporation to get back to the negotiating table.

He said: “Canada Post has been very focused on its demands, not ours. The corporation wants to pay new employees 30%. It wants to reduce their benefits, weaken their job security and provide an inferior pension. It also wants to attack retiree benefits, sick leave and turn back the clock on many other contract provisions.”

Lemelin added: “CUPW members want a collective agreement that recognizes our work is behind the increases in profits and productivity. They want management to share, instead of attacking our wages, rights and working conditions.”

“Optimistic”

Canada Post said this afternoon that it had been expecting a strong mandate to strike from the CUPW members, as had been seen in previous rounds of collective bargaining.

The Crown Corporation claimed the union was “not in a legal strike position”, and that in the mean time it was business as usual.

“We do not anticipate any disruption to mail service at this time,” Canada Post said in a statement. “Canada Post remains optimistic that a negotiated settlement can be reached just as it has in each round of collective bargaining with CUPW since 1997.”

Canada Post said it was offering its staff annual wage increases, a secure pension and job security, stating that the wage deal currently on the table proposed “some of the best wages and benefits in Canada”.

“We are proposing a new sick leave program and different terms and conditions for new employees. These changes are needed to keep Canada Post financially viable and secure the future of the postal system in this country. Competition and electronic substitutions of traditional mail are growing and putting a strain on our business,” the statement said.