Canada Post Workers Ordered to Resume Duties Following Labour Board Ruling

Canada Post has announced that operations will resume on Tuesday, Dec. 17, following a ruling by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) that ordered striking workers back to their jobs. The decision comes after weeks of halted mail services due to a strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

The CIRB determined that negotiations between Canada Post and CUPW had reached an impasse after two days of hearings over the weekend. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon had instructed the board to intervene if a deal could not be reached by the end of the year.

Wage Increase Agreed

Canada Post said it had agreed to implement a five per cent wage increase retroactive to the day after the collective agreements expired. The union has not yet commented on the resumption of work or the wage adjustment.

Strike Overview

The strike began on Nov. 15, with more than 55,000 workers walking off the job. The dispute included key issues such as wage increases, job security, and working conditions. Federal mediation was suspended on Nov. 27 when mediators concluded the sides were too far apart to reach a resolution.

Union Concerns

On Friday, CUPW criticized MacKinnon’s intervention, calling it part of a troubling trend where the government allows employers to avoid bargaining in good faith with unions. The union has not yet issued a statement following the CIRB's decision.

Next Steps

With operations set to resume, Canada Post will begin working through a significant backlog of mail and parcels. Both sides will likely face continued scrutiny as they navigate their unresolved disputes and implement the mandated wage increase.

The full impact of the strike on holiday mail and packages is yet to be determined, though delays are expected to persist as Canada Post works to restore normal operations.