Canadian Government Orders 55,000 Canada Post Workers Back to Work, Extends Agreement Until May 2025

Dec 13, 2024, 03:56 PM

The Canadian government has intervened in the ongoing Canada Post strike by requesting the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to order approximately 55,000 postal workers back to work. The strike, which began on November 15, has disrupted mail services for nearly a month during the busy holiday season. Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon announced that the CIRB would assess the likelihood of reaching a negotiated agreement by the end of 2024. If deemed unlikely, the CIRB would order the resumption of operations and extend the current collective agreement until May 22, 2025. The government's decision comes after negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) reached an impasse, with the union seeking better wages, safe working conditions, and improved benefits. MacKinnon emphasized the significant impact the strike has had on small businesses, remote communities, and Indigenous peoples, prompting the need for immediate action to restore mail services.