Mail could begin moving again in Canada as early as next week after the federal government moved Friday to end the nearly month-long work stoppage at Canada Post.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said heSA国际影视传媒檚 referred the dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, with the aim of ordering the nearly 55,000 workers back to work and extending the current collective agreement until May 22, 2025 SA国际影视传媒� if the board determines a deal isnSA国际影视传媒檛 within immediate reach.
In the meantime, MacKinnon said he will appoint an industrial inquiry commission to look into the bargaining issues and come up with recommendations by May 15 on how a new agreement can be reached.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e calling a time out,SA国际影视传媒� MacKinnon told reporters today at a press conference in Ottawa.
SA国际影视传媒淪uffice to say positions appeared to have hardened and it became clear to me we were in a total impasse.SA国际影视传媒�
A federally-appointed mediator withdrew themselves two weeks ago, saying at the time the two sides were too far apart to make a deal.
MacKinnon said since then, the negotiations have been SA国际影视传媒済oing in the wrong direction.SA国际影视传媒�
MacKinnon called the decision a creative solution by not sending the matter directly to binding arbitration SA国际影视传媒� as the government did in recent labour disputes with CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 railways and ports.
He said this doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 mean a deal will be automatically in reach by May, but hopes the inquiry can show a path forward that works for both Canada Post and its workforce.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are major structural changes in that industry that have to be accounted for,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are workers aspirations in that industry that have to be accounted for. Those have proved to be interests that are tough to reconcile. So ISA国际影视传媒檓 looking to try and triage those issues.SA国际影视传媒�
The postal workers union was quick to denounce the decision, saying the move is SA国际影视传媒渁n assaultSA国际影视传媒� on the right to collective bargaining.
SA国际影视传媒淭his order continues a deeply troubling pattern in which the government uses its arbitrary powers to let employers off the hook, drag their feet, and refuse to bargain in good faith with workers and their unions,SA国际影视传媒� the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said in a statement.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business however welcomed the move. It estimates small businesses have been losing a combined $100 million every day.
SA国际影视传媒淭his will be too late to salvage any of the Christmas holiday season for small businesses,SA国际影视传媒� CFIB president Dan Kelly said in a statement.
SA国际影视传媒淲ith a massive backlog, it will be nearly impossible for any new shipments to make it to Canadians before Christmas through Canada Post.SA国际影视传媒�
Kelly said the resumption of mail will help businesses waiting for cheque payments from customers. Such a hold on payments, he said, have made it hard for small businesses to pay their bills.
MacKinnon also acknowledged the effect on small businesses and remote communities, as well as on passport deliveries, immigration paperwork, and health cards. He said there are 50,000 permanent resident cards yet to be mailed, 190,000 passports, and the Canada Revenue Agency is holding more than 1.65 million pieces of secure correspondence.
By Nick Murray, The Canadian Press
