Canada Post, Union Reach Deal, Avert Strike
Canada Post and its postal workers union reached a deal early today on a framework for a contract, avoiding a national strike or lockout of thousands of corporation employees, the Canadian Press reported.Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers agreed to finalize a tentative agreement in the next 72 hours, according to news reports. The union then will present the deal to its members for ratification.
Details of the framework were not released early today.
"Both parties were very professional in their approach and managed to resolve a lot of very difficult issues," said John Caines, a Canada Post spokesperson. "And now we're glad that we can move along."
The agreement came about 3 1/2 hours after the third deadline extension had elapsed at midnight.
"It's business as usual like it has been all along," Caines said, adding that the mail would continue to move today as the two sides review final contract language.
Officials with CUPW were not immediately available for comment.
Job security, benefits, wages, retirement, workload and safety were key issues.
CUPW represents 48,000 Canada Post employees. Canada Post delivers 37 million pieces of mail daily to more than 31 million Canadians, located at almost 14 million addresses and more than 1 million Canadian businesses coast to coast.
