Canada Post says it has reached a deal with 2nd-largest union CPAA

Canada Post says it has reached a deal with the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA), the second-largest union representing its workers.

The union represents 8,500 of the Crown corporation's employees, most of whom are responsible for managing post offices in rural areas of the country.

The parties, which had been negotiating for 18 months, went to arbitration to reach the deal. The new collective agreement includes a wage increase of 11 per cent over three years, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, Canada Post said in a statement Thursday.

Dwayne Jones, national union president, confirmed the deal in an email to CBC News, saying the negotiations were "difficult, marked by long hours, tough conversations and, at times, frustrating setbacks."

"Throughout this process, CPAA was steadfast in its commitment to what mattered most to our members and fought for a collective agreement that maintains current entitlements and ensures important advancements. This outcome was hard-fought and long overdue," Jones wrote.

Negotiations ongoing with other major union

Canada Post has yet to reach a deal with its largest union, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), having sent that group its final offer last month. 

Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said earlier this month that she would put the final offer up for a vote among CUPW members, and asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to conduct the vote "as soon as possible."

It is still unclear when the vote will take place. 

CUPW members went on 32-day strike last fall after the two sides failed to negotiate a collective agreement. The strike ended after the federal government imposed a return-to-work order.