The federal government has delayed a likely mid-October postal strike by appointing a conciliation commissioner to try to bridge the bargaining gap between Canada Post and its workers.
Despite a breakdown in talks that could have led to a strike as early as this week, labor minister Lawrence MacAuley said he wanted to give talks one last chance.
Marc Gravel, an arbitrator who has worked on earlier postal grievances, will meet with both sides, try to narrow differences and then report back to MacAuley. There is no deadline for his report.
Read Also
Ag In Motion 2025 site hub of activity
day before Ag in Motion preview.
The minister said it is a chance for both sides to review their positions on wages, hours of work and part-time employees.
“I am confident that with a willingness to be flexible and continued hard work, the parties will be able to reach a settlement with the assistance of the commissioner.”
But the Canadian Union of Postal Workers denounced the move as a government delaying tactic.
CUPW president Darrell Tingley said the government should quit interfering.
It already has told large volume mail users that any strike will be ended with legislation. Now, a conciliator is giving companies even more time to get ready.
