The Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Canada Post have reached tentative agreements, averting any possible job action.
Federal Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk says, in a statement, that these deals were reached voluntarily by both sides.
CUPW was set to begin job actions earlier this week until a couple of 24-hour extensions were announced to allow the negotiations to continue.
Canada Post says the agreement is for a period of two years, instead of the typical four-year contracts. That is to allow discussions on pensions and declining mail volumes to continue without the threat of a work disruption hanging over the negotations.
Specific details of the contract haven’t been released.
Canadian Union of Postal Workers president Mike Palecek says the agreement protects members against wage rollbacks.
It maintains the current pension plan and establishes a process to resolve pay equity for the mostly female rural and suburban mail carriers.
Palecek says a number of issues are still unresolved which is why the agreements expire at the end of next year.
“This is not over. Let’s be clear about that. The future of the post office is still hanging in the balance and it’s going to be decided over the next year, year and a half.”
Palecek says the federal mediator helped both sides see a different perspective and found ways to accomplish what they were looking for.
“We haven’t made concessions. We’ve acheived a collective agreement without concession. And that is a massive acheivement for our members.”
The agreements will expire at the end of next year.
Union members will take the next few months to ratify the deal.
