I will post here what Canada Post & Postal Union positions are.

[skylarstuff]

First off is the Union statement

CUPW Issues 72-Hour Strike Notice: A Call for Fair Negotiation

Tuesday May 20 2025

2023-2027/251

No. 83 - AMENDED

On Monday, May 19, CUPW issued a 72-hour strike notice to Canada Post. This action was not taken lightly, but it was done for several reasons.

The collective agreements for the Urban Postal Operations and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers bargaining units, which were extended by the Government in December 2024, are set to expire Friday, May 23 at midnight.

CUPW negotiators met with Canada Post over several days at the end of April and early May, with the goal of resolving our bargaining dispute and achieving new collective agreements for both bargaining units.

Last week, Canada Post walked away from the bargaining table for the third time, telling the Union it would return with new comprehensive offers. A week has passed. With the expiry of our collective agreements drawing closer by the day, we are still waiting. The clock is ticking, and so far, Canada Post has yet to deliver.

The day after Canada Post walked away and paused bargaining, it fired another shot, by threatening to unilaterally change your working conditions and suspend employee benefits if new agreements aren’t reached. This aggressive move undermines good faith bargaining and the stability of our public postal service. It had to be met with strong resistance. Postal workers won’t be threatened or coerced into accepting offers that will gut our collective agreements and undermine good, stable jobs.

Our right to strike was taken away from us and put on “a time out” by former Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon’s orders and the Canada Industrial Relations Board in December 2024. By issuing this notice, we are simply announcing our intention to continue our legal strike that was put on pause by the CIRB.

The Work Continues

Although we have served notices, there is still time for negotiations to take place. We remain committed to achieving negotiated collective agreements. Your National Executive Board and Negotiating Committees urge Canada Post to return to the bargaining table with real offers that protect the health and well-being of postal workers, support the communities we serve, and ensure a strong and sustainable public postal service for all.

In solidarity,

Jan Simpson

National President

[skylarstuff]

CUPW is Waiting for Canada Post

Friday August 8 2025

2023-2027/311

No. 128

A week ago, CUPW members spoke loudly and rejected what Canada Post called its “best and final” offers. The goal of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers remains negotiating ratifiable collective agreements which meet postal workers’ needs, help grow the current services provided by a public post office and to better serve Canadians with new services.

While CUPW is ready to meet, bargaining collective agreements takes two parties. CUPW reached out to Canada Post CEO Doug Ettinger on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week to restart bargaining and we have not heard back. Unfortunately, it does not appear that Canada Post shares our urgency about getting back to the negotiating table and reaching ratifiable collective agreements.

After many tactics that interfered with bargaining, the Government of Canada, Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, is now saying her ministry will not be directly involved in the “next round” of bargaining. This is the same round of bargaining that the Government has “paused” for six (6) months, ordered an Industrial Inquiry Commission, and forced a vote for the employer on their final offers because, “there were questions in the minds of the employer” on whether or not workers were unhappy with Canada Post’s final offers. The forced vote wasted another two months.

The Minister also said, “Now it's time for the parties to truly negotiate in good faith to get an agreement that will serve their members”.

The Union has been bargaining in good faith during the entire process, we need Canada Post to do the same, as the sole shareholder of Canada Post the Government can order Canada Post to do so.

CUPW members demand that Canada Post return to the table. With Managements final offers rejected by a large majority, it is the employer that needs to move off their extreme positions.

Canada Post and the Minister have said the Canadian public deserves stability and the current uncertainty is bad for business. Yet, they have not responded to our invitation to return to the bargaining table.

The national overtime ban will remain in effect. 

In solidarity,

Rona Eckert

1st National Vice-President

[recped]

Rona seems to have a hard time understanding two simple words........

"FINAL OFFER"

CUPW may be waiting a very long time for Canada Post to return to the table and when they do it will probably be to discuss the NEXT contract.

I do wonder how the vote would have turned out if CUPW had been more honest with their members when explaining the ramifications of a no vote.

[marnotom!]

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@recped wrote:

I do wonder how the vote would have turned out if CUPW had been more honest with their members when explaining the ramifications of a no vote.

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I suspect that this outcome was discussed informally or off the record in many locals.  These updates and memos aren't the only means the CUPW membership uses for communication.

[flipistics]

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@recped wrote:

Rona seems to have a hard time understanding two simple words........

"FINAL OFFER"

CUPW may be waiting a very long time for Canada Post to return to the table and when they do it will probably be to discuss the NEXT contract.

I do wonder how the vote would have turned out if CUPW had been more honest with their members when explaining the ramifications of a no vote.

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I still think Canada Post will either lock them out or declare bankrupsy (if that's possible) and force the government to deal with the mess. 

[fergua3]

the way i see this playing out is thusly:

CP does not return to bargaining table because, as stated above, they have made their final offer.  Therefore there is nothing left to negotiate.  CP then sits back to assess how the current status is hurting their bottom line.  Pay and benefits to CUPW is still following the previous contract.  CP will be happy to continue that way forever, i imagine.  Unless income from reduced package volumes is hurting more than not having to raise CUPW pay.  Then they will lockout.

If CP  does not lockout then eventually one would imagine CUPW will grow frustrated and call some kind of rotating or general strike.  At which point CP will definitely lockout, until CUPW accepts their final offer.  CUPW workers will lose thousands more dollars of income in the process and gain nothing over accepting the final offer months earlier.

The gov't, despite EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS GOING ON IN THE NATION AT THE MOMENT,  will be finally forced to step in and impose binding arbitration.  Given CP's near bankrupt state, i doubt CUPW will gain anything much more than what CP's final offer is.   

CUPW does realize that there is a national crisis going on do they?  They seem to be living in the past, in a time of perceived abundance.   Canada will be in a recession by year's end.....a recession that could last over a decade or more.  The gov't will be stretched to the limits supporting industries that will be near bankrupt due to the tariff war.  There will be no tax payer money available for CP bailouts just so CUPW can get even more than the lavish deal they have now.

[flipistics]

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@fergua3 wrote:

the way i see this playing out is thusly:

CP does not return to bargaining table because, as stated above, they have made their final offer.  Therefore there is nothing left to negotiate.  CP then sits back to assess how the current status is hurting their bottom line.  Pay and benefits to CUPW is still following the previous contract.  CP will be happy to continue that way forever, i imagine.  Unless income from reduced package volumes is hurting more than not having to raise CUPW pay.  Then they will lockout.

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I don't think they really can sit back. Beyond the fact that they're losing crazy amounts of money (likely even worse now than when the report came out), there CAN NOT be another work stoppage over the Christmas season. That would be absolutely disasterous for both CP and small businesses given everything else that's happening. It really needs to be dealt with now, whatever that looks like.

They haven't been able to agree on almost anything in 1.5 years of negotiating. There isn't going to be some magic eurika moment.

[john_koenig99]

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@skylarstuff wrote:

CUPW is Waiting for Canada Post

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Me hinks they might as well wait for the Sun to die. Final means final. 

[marnotom!]

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@fergua3 wrote:

CUPW does realize that there is a national crisis going on do they?  They seem to be living in the past, in a time of perceived abundance.   Canada will be in a recession by year's end.....a recession that could last over a decade or more.  The gov't will be stretched to the limits supporting industries that will be near bankrupt due to the tariff war.  There will be no tax payer money available for CP bailouts just so CUPW can get even more than the lavish deal they have now.

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CUPW seems pretty aware of Canada Post's financial straits, but remember, the union's job is to look after its membership, not the employer, and the union is in a better position that us Joes and Janes off the street to assess whether the employer's priorities are straight and it's running the show to the best of its abilities.

A big problem that we have being caught in the middle is that mainstream media coverage of the union's side hasn't been particularly thorough as the major news outlets no longer have reporters who specialize in labour issues.  As a result, when the union tries to get its message through, it's seen as "propaganda" because the media largely hasn't been investigating the union's claims and messages.

The union offers or accepts concessions to the employer at its peril.  You and I may look at Canada Post's proposal to eliminate a five-minute pre-mealtime washing up period as a reasonable cost-saving measure, but the union would see it as a possible slippery slope.  If the union allows this concession, then the employer is going to see it as fair game to ask for more drastic concessions.  ("Hey! You let us cut that five-minute wash-up period. What's wrong with reducing bathroom breaks, too?")  I don't think any of us would be too proud of having a postal system that forces its employees to pee into bottles while working the way Amazon delivery personnel were basically forced to do.

[marnotom!]

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@john_koenig99 wrote:

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Methinks they might as well wait for the Sun to die. Final means final. 

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Last I checked, public opinion seemed almost evenly divided between support for CUPW and support for 

Canada Post. At this point, both sides seem to be trying to look like the more reasonable one of the two. I think a lockout would see support for the corporation nosedive and resuming a full-scale strike would see support for the union plummet.  So here we are.

One union local president would like to see arbitration as the next step, for what it's worth.

https://thehighlander.ca/2025/08/07/cupw-rep-calls-for-contract-arbitration/

[fergua3]

well, the union may call it a 'slippery slope', others would call it negotiating.  ie give something to get something.  That's how negotiations are supposed to work.  So far CUPW's negotiations have been. 'gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme....'  

I'm well aware of what CUPW's mindset is.  I've experienced it since my first recollection of a postal strike back in the 1960's.  It was the same  then as it is now: 'we have a monopoly, the country needs us,  so take full advantage of them...'  It's the same philosophy that a heroine pusher has.

[marnotom!]

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@fergua3 wrote:

So far CUPW's negotiations have been. 'gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme....'  

Do we know that for a fact, or are we just going by various reports that aren’t going to go into every little detail?

For all we know, we’ve just been hearing about the “gimmes” and not the other stuff brought up in negotiations.

I don’t think CUPW would have requested binding arbitration a few months back if it hadn’t budged from some of its initial bargaining positions.

[skylarstuff]

We need to follow the rules of the United States Postal Service (USPS) workers are generally considered to be performing an essential service, but unlike in some other countries, federal law generally prohibits them from striking. The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 eliminated the postal service's ability to strike. In the event of a labor dispute, binding arbitration is used to resolve issues, which imposes a resolution through a neutral third party rather than allowing workers to strike. 

[marnotom!]

A prohibition from striking probably wouldn’t have stopped CUPW from taking illegal job action in this instance, judging from the sentiments expressed in this news piece:

https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/prince-george-cupw-president-calls-forced-canada-post...

The CUPW local president interviewed sounds extremely frustrated with the negotiations process and feels workers have been jerked around by both the employer and the government.

This reminds me of illegal strike action BC teachers embarked on twenty years ago in reaction to being jerked around by the provincial government of the day. This strike also saw “sympathy strike action” by other unions, notably the BC branch of CUPE. I can see a possibility of similar cooperation job action being taken by other public sector workers if CUPW is locked out or has to resort to extreme measures.

[reallynicestamps]

Working to rule is legal.

In fact, working beyond the rule is supposed to be compensated.

If Canada Post finds that a workforce that does exactly what they are supposed to, and no more, is a problem, perhaps they might realize that the "lazy workers" are no such thing.

[flipistics]

Apparently they're meeting again on Friday and Monday with the help of federal mediators. I'm guessing those are going to be short meetings. It sounds to me like the union isn't interested in negotiating further and want to force arbitration, and Canada Post likely wants to force the government into legislative changes to their mandate.

The union is also upset that Purolator is offering steep shipping discounts right now.

[marnotom!]

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@flipistics wrote:

It sounds to me like the union isn't interested in negotiating further and want to force arbitration, and Canada Post likely wants to force the government into legislative changes to their mandate.

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Interesting. The impression I’m getting is that the union’s been pursuing arbitration because the employer hasn’t been interested in negotiating (even before the "final offer") and has been leaning on the government to take action instead.

[skylarstuff]

CUPW negotiations: Meeting between the parties moved to Wednesday 

As you know, Canada Post is planning to meet with CUPW at the negotiating table to hear the union’s response to the Corporation’s best and final offers presented on May 28. Due to the availability of federal mediators, this meeting has been moved to Wednesday, August 20. 
 
The company looks forward to receiving a detailed and comprehensive response from CUPW that addresses the real, significant and increasing challenges faced by the postal service.

[fergua3]

any sympathy i might have had for the workers is pretty much gone.  Recent example of why (on top of a long, long history of reasons why).  I had a package from Europe finally arrive at the Toronto facility, the delivery facility  for me is Scarborough, literally right next door to the Toronto facilty.   Instead, my package got sent across town, to an incorrect delivery facility and now has to be rerouted back to Toronto, then to Scarborough, then to me.

It's Friday and because the Union won't allow weekend delivery the earliest i will get my package now is Monday, a minimum of a 3 day delay.  CP is stuck in the stone age of delivery because of Union's position. regarding weekend delivery.  CP is already more expensive than most of the small courier competition, who also deliver pretty much any day of the year, including Christmas.  The union needs to keep up with the times instead of wishing things were the same as they were in 1980.

[skylarstuff]

Canada Post Responds to Union’s Call to Bargain

Wednesday August 13 2025

2023-2027/313

No. 129

After pressing the Employer to come back to the bargaining table early last week, we received a response from Canada Post CEO Doug Ettinger on Friday evening, just hours after we posted Bulletin 128, “CUPW is Waiting for Canada Post.” In his letter, Mr. Ettinger stuck to the lines we’ve heard from Canada Post for many months now.     

And while Canada Post says it needs to act with urgency, the Corporation seems to forget that it was its side that delayed negotiations for 2 months by requesting a forced vote, and this after the Government paused our legal strike for 6 months. 

Canada Post suggested its “best and final offers” reflected the “objective findings” of the Industrial Inquiry Commission. But Canada Post failed to acknowledge that its offers just didn’t cut it: they were overwhelmingly rejected by members.   

Returning to the Table 

Mr. Ettinger told us Canada Post was open to continued “discussions” with the help of federal mediators. He suggested the best way to restart bargaining would be for the Union to respond to Canada Post’s “best and final” offers from May 28.

But we have had enough “discussions” that go nowhere. The job now is to get ratifiable collective agreements. And the members have made clear that those do not look like what the Employer is selling.  

Yesterday, August 12, both parties met with the federal mediators. We have agreed to meet with Canada Post on Friday, August 15 and Monday, August 18. 

In the meantime, the Employer needs to stop sending customers away, offering steep discounts for Purolator, and attacking services – the latest is not putting the flag up on rural mailboxes.  

It’s time for Canada Post to get serious and negotiate now! 

Our national overtime ban remains in effect. 

In solidarity,

Jan Simpson

National President

[skylarstuff]

Meetings Delayed, CUPW United

Thursday August 14 2025

2023-2027/314

No. 130

Unfortunately, our scheduled meetings for Friday, August 15th and Monday, August 18th, have been postponed. The Federal mediators will not be able to assist CUPW and CPC due to their current involvement in the Air Canada negotiations.

In the meantime, your strong rejection of CPC's “best final offers” sent an unmistakable message to both the Employer and the Federal Government: CUPW members are determined and ready to fight for fair collective agreements, even in the face of repeated Government interventions and delays. That show of solidarity strengthens our position at the bargaining table and makes it clear that we will not settle for less than what we deserve.

We have prepared global offers that address your demands, and we are awaiting confirmation from the mediators on the dates for our next meeting with CPC.

Our nationwide overtime ban remains in full effect.

In solidarity,

Jan Simpson

National President