By Cheryl Jahn

CUPW, Local 812 in holding pattern

Nov 12, 2024 | 4:47 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – It’s been six years since Canada Post workers were on the picket lines in Prince George and elsewhere across the country. While some of the issues are similar now as they were in 2018, there are differences.

“The union is looking for wages that keep up with the cost of living or inflation for sure. Health and Safety is another huge one for us, for our letter carriers and RSMCs as well,” says Rick Harris, President of CUPW, Local 821. “So those are the things that really top the list. There was a pension discussion and that seems to have sort of worked itself out. So we’ll see where that ends up when they make a final contract.”

There are just over 200 members of both in Prince George and the surrounding area represented by Local 812 with the RSMC bargaining unit and the Urban bargaining units.

“There are separate negotiators on both sides of the table. And essentially it’s the same working conditions, health and safety, wages. There are some differences a little bit further down on the list of concerns. But at the same time, it’s it’s pretty much the same thing that they’re negotiating for.”

Canada Post’s latest contract offer included annual wage increases that amounted to eleven and a half per cent over four years as well as protection of the benefit pensions for current employees.

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“The union doesn’t feel that’s a better deal than what we have now. Better for the Corporation, maybe, as far as what they’re there they’re put in is how much they contribute. But it just the union didn’t feel that that was a better deal for workers that are going to be hired on.”

In a release, Canada Post says: “In the event CUPW initiates rotating strike activity, Canada Post intends to continue delivering for Canadians and Canadian businesses while working to reach negotiated agreements. However, the ongoing possibility of a labour disruption has been significantly eroding Canada Post’s volumes and escalating the negative financial impact on the company.

On November 24, 2018, the government passed Bill C-89, which ended the strike three days later, and mandated the postal workers return to work.

“In 2018 we did rotating strikes to start with and then we were locked out by Canada Post Corporation and then the Federal government legislated us back to work. I would say it’s I mean, seeing what’s going on right now in the landscape of bargaining and, you know, forced arbitration. So I would say it’s a concern for sure.”

The union will be in a legal strike position as of midnight Eastern time Friday. However, while the Canada Post has been given notice, it has not yet been determined whether job action will take place immediately, with the union saying that will depend on Canada Post’s actions at the bargaining table between now and then.