Union serves strike notice to Canada Post

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) gave notice on Tuesday, Oct. 16 to Canada Post that they will begin job action as soon as next week if an agreement can’t be reached for the Urban Postal Operations and Rural Suburban Mail Carriers bargaining units.

The union says that rotating strikes will begin on Monday, Oct. 22, but have not released the locations of strike action. “Their locations and intensity will depend on Canada Post’s actions at the bargaining table.

“Our members gave us a clear mandate to take job action if Canada Post refused to address our major issues – health and safety, gender equality and preserving full-time, middle class jobs,” says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. “Our goal is still negotiated settlements with no postal disruption. This week is Canada Post’s chance to make that happen.”

Key demands for postal workers during this round of bargaining are job security, an end to forced overtime and overburdening, better health and safety measures, service expansion and equality for RSMCs.

The union says Canada Post needs to address workplace injuries, which have increased 43 per cent over the last two years, they claim.