The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says Canada Post’s latest offer “outright ignored” the union’s positions.
Canada Post tabled what it called its ‘final offer’ to the union on Wednesday.
The postal service said the final offer “protects what’s most important to employees while making important enhancements that build on the company’s most recent offers,” as well as “acts on the recommendations of the Industrial Inquiry Commission with much-needed changes to the company’s delivery model.”
The offer included a signing bonus of $1,000 or $500, depending on the role of employment, and a lower inflation threshold for cost of living allowance payments (7.16 per cent instead of 13.59 per cent).
It proposed a continued per-piece payment for Neighbourhood Mail deliveries until January 1, 2030, but only for letter carriers using the Dynamic Routing delivery model, with the per-peice payments on top of actual time values (Urban unit).
Additionally, the corporation offered to remove compulsory overtime, meaning it can no longer require employees to work mandatory overtime (Urban unit).
Wage offers were maintained, with the postal service offering current employees wage increases of six per cent in year one, three per cent in year two, and two per cent in years three and four (13.59 per cent compounded).
The corporation has also proposed what it calls “critical changes to its delivery model to help it compete in parcel delivery seven days a week.”
This includes the creation of part-time positions that will provide health and pension benefits and scheduled and guaranteed hours.
Union reponds
While the postal service insists the offer reflects the union’s demands from its May 25 proposal, the union says there are “almost no changes from what the employer put forward on May 21.”
“There’s no question: Canada Post is not negotiating. Canada Post is playing hardball. The employer even admits this,” said the union in a May 29 statement.
“Its offer to the Urban unit says that ‘part-time flex staffing and weekend delivery’ and ‘load-levelling and dynamic routing’ are ‘non-negotiable.’ These have been the most challenging issues on the table this round, and now Canada Post insists that they must be in the next collective agreements.”
On other big issues, the union claims Canada Post outright ignored its position.
The union says Canada Post’s offer provides no improvements to its current wage proposal, no improvements for Group 1 staffing, and no improvements against the contracting out of work.
“And while we proposed changes to the employer’s offer on STDP that would have helped both parties, Canada Post stuck to its position. Canada Post says this was its final offer. But this fight is far from over.”
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers instituted a ban on overtime last Friday, rather than a full-scale walkout.
The union represents 55,000 workers across the country.
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