Strike or lockout looming at Canada Post

Canada Post mail service could screech to a halt as early as Saturday if the Crown corporation locks out its employees or the unions call a strike. Both will be in a legal position to do so if a collective agreement is not reached by July 2.

"There's no mandate on our side of the table today to go on strike," said Craig Dyer, President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local 126. "But there's a lot of rumours and messages being sent out by the corporation that they are planning on locking out their 50,000 members."

In a news release, Canada Post says it tabled contract offers June 25 for its delivery employees and plant workers.

"Our offers are designed to help reach agreements and avoid a work disruption," it said in the statement.

The Crown corporation is warning customers to take precautions.

"In the event of a labour disruption, Canada Post will not operate. Mail and parcels will not be delivered, and no new items will be accepted. Any mail and parcels within the postal system during a work disruption will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume."

Dyer, who represents 300 workers in the St. John's area, said Canada Post told the union earlier in June that it will suspend employee health, vision and dental benefits on July 2.

"That's sending the wrong message to the workers and that's sending the wrong message to the public." Dyer said in an interview with Here and Now's Jonathan Crowe on Tuesday. "We should be at the negotiating table trying to hammer out a bargain."

"Our membership [is] tired of being told that the sky is falling," said Dyer. "Right now our members are upset. We've made huge profits over the last few years."

Dyer hopes the change in federal government leadership will work to their advantage.

"I think it's a huge turning point. We spent 12 years under the Harper regime, but we still have a Harper-style management team in Ottawa," said Dyer. "We're hoping that the liberals are on side with us. The liberals are all about the middle class families. We are the middle class." 

Dyer said if a labour disruption happens, postal workers will keep essential services in place and deliver Employment Insurance cheques.

Canada Post issued deadlines for premium mail delivery options for guaranteed delivery by June 30:

• Xpresspost (national and regional): June 28
• Expedited Parcel (local): June 29
• Priority (national, regional and local): June 29
• Xpresspost (local): June 29

Deliveries were already cancelled on July 1 because of the holiday.