June 17, 2016
Rumors of a strike for Canada Post have been circulating since late 2015, and in April 2016 the carrier filed a notice of dispute with the Minister of Labor to request help with negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).
Canada Post and the CUPW are attempting to reach a new agreement for 50,000 workers. There are a number of changes that have motivated the threat of a strike, including the elimination of a paid meal period for employees, tightening the requirement to qualify for job security and more.
Will the workers strike?
It has happened before, so the precedent has been set. In 2011, Canada Post workers went on strike, followed by a lockout. Ultimately, the government intervened and passed Bill C-6, the Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act, in June 2011. Postal workers also challenged this legislation, claiming that it denied key charter protections.
We will be switching volume from Canada Post to other carriers within the Shipwire Platform beginning on June 23, 2016 to prevent any disruption and ensure all shipments make it through the Canada Post network prior to the proposed July 2 strike.