More than two-thirds of Canada Post workers, both urban and rural, have rejected what the Crown corporation labelled its “final” contract offers, thrusting ongoing negotiations into fresh uncertainty just as the service faces mounting pressure to modernize.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), which represents about 55,000 employees, orchestrated a two-week membership vote that concluded Friday evening. The outcome was decisive: the majority in both urban and rural units dismissed the latest proposals, which included a four-year, 13 percent wage increase but also expanded the use of part-time workers—a move CUPW has consistently resisted.
Jan Simpson, the union’s national president, underscored that union negotiators have repeatedly communicated members’ opposition to such terms. According to Simpson, the results “make clear what our negotiators have been telling the employer all along: these offers don’t cut it.” She emphasized that CUPW intends to draw Canada Post back to the bargaining table, pressing for agreements that meet the needs of postal employees.
Canada Post, meanwhile, acknowledged the setback and stated it is “evaluating its next steps.” The company pointed to the urgent requirement to modernize operations and identified the ongoing impasse as a source of uncertainty for businesses and individuals who depend on reliable postal service. The rejected offer’s focus on part-time workers highlights the tension between corporate cost-saving strategies and union concerns about job security and working conditions.
The federal government intervened to facilitate the member vote, with the Canada Industrial Relations Board overseeing proceedings after the request from Canada Post and the involvement of the federal jobs minister. While CUPW’s overtime ban—initiated in May amid stalled talks—remains in effect, further escalation such as strikes or lockouts would risk triggering government intervention, a scenario the union opposes. Simpson made it clear that “the time for games is over” and called for genuine negotiation rather than imposed solutions.
The current stalemate leaves the future of Canada’s postal service—and the working lives of thousands—uncertain, as both sides prepare for the next round in a dispute that carries national significance.
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Canada Post workers reject ‘final’ contract offers after vote
