Canadian Postal Workers May Strike Again on May 22​

Just five months after last year's nationwide strike ended, Canadian postal workers may launch another strike on May 22, when the existing collective agreement will officially expire.​
 

Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) returned to the negotiation table on Wednesday, attempting to break the deadlock that has persisted since March this year. The union stated that it is striving for new collective agreements for urban letter carriers as well as rural and suburban mail delivery workers. Canada Post said that the two parties are collaborating with a mediator to continue the negotiations that were interrupted in March.​
 

Lisa Liu, a spokesperson for Canada Post, said that the company's top priority is to reach an agreement that reflects the key changes of the present, but it is also preparing for various possible outcomes, including a labor disruption on or after May 22. Last autumn's nationwide postal strike finally ended in December. At that time, Steven MacKinnon, the federal Minister of Labour, requested the Federal Labour Relations Board to intervene on the grounds of a "negotiation impasse" and force postal workers to return to work. The current collective agreement was extended from that period.​
 

Several major Canadian banks, including TD Bank, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), and MBNA, have issued notifications to customers, reminding them of the possible postal service disruptions, which are expected to begin as early as late May. The Industrial Inquiry Commission established by the federal government has completed the hearing process and is expected to submit an official report and recommendations on May 15.​
 

Canada Post said that the company is facing a "severe financial crisis." It eliminated 20% of senior positions in January this year and further cut management staff in February. The postal workers' union emphasized that it is working hard to reach a new agreement to secure fair pay, health and safety guarantees, job stability, and the right to a dignified retirement for its employees.