Canada Post and the union representing its more than 55,000 postal workers are returning to negotiations this weekend.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said in a press release Friday that the two sides will be negotiating with the help of a mediator for two days.
The parties began mediated negotiations after a countrywide strike, which ended in December after the government directed the labour board to order the employees back to work if a deal couldnB次元官网网址檛 be reached before the end of the year.
At the same time, the two parties are also in the midst of hearings as part of a federal inquiry looking at the structural and business issues facing Canada Post.
The inquiry will also make recommendations on how a new deal could be reached with the union. ItB次元官网网址檚being led by William Kaplan, who is also acting as the mediator for negotiations.
B次元官网网址淭he union hasnB次元官网网址檛 wavered in its belief that the best collective agreements are the ones reached at the bargaining table. WeB次元官网网址檙e focused on ensuring good, stable jobs for all postal workers and strengthening the public post office,B次元官网网址� the union said in the press release.
Canada Post has been pushing to expand weekend delivery as a way of boosting its faltering bottom line, but itB次元官网网址檚 at odds with the union over how to staff the expansion.
The union is challenging the governmentB次元官网网址檚 intervention in the labour dispute, and accused Ottawa of undermining workersB次元官网网址� rights.
The next hearings for that challenge before the Canada Industrial Relations Board are being held March 3 and 4.
However, CUPW said in the press release that as part of negotiations in January, Canada Post demanded they agree to a clause that would force them to give up the challenge. The union said this infringed on its legal rights.
Canada Post didnB次元官网网址檛 respond to a request for comment. However, in an update on negotiations Jan. 17, the organization took issue with the unionB次元官网网址檚 position on the constitutional challenge.
B次元官网网址淐UPWB次元官网网址檚 position that any new agreements should be subject to later invalidation, pending the unionB次元官网网址檚 ongoing constitutional complaint, makes it impossible to have meaningful negotiations until the complaint is settled with the Canada Industrial Relations Board,B次元官网网址� Canada Post said.
