Canada Post Offers New Contract to Striking Workers

**Canada Post Offers New Contract to Striking Workers** Canada Post has presented a new contract offer to its striking postal workers, but the proposal is unlikely to resolve a dispute that has lasted over 20 months. The latest offer, delivered on Friday, includes significant concessions compared to the Crown corporation's previous "final" offer, which was rejected by members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) in August. Key changes in the new offer include the removal of a signing bonus, provisions for potential layoffs, and plans to close nearly 500 urban and suburban post offices. Canada Post stated, "Canada Post’s new offers are within the limit of what the corporation can afford while maintaining good jobs and benefits for employees over the long-term." In response, CUPW criticized both the offer and the federal government for approving a major restructuring plan last week. The union expressed disappointment, stating, "Postal workers expected improved offers after being made to wait for 45 days after CUPW presented our offers. Instead, the offers are worse." They also noted that Canada Post is expecting workers to accept terms they previously rejected in a vote two months ago. Steven Tufts, a labor studies professor at York University, commented on the situation, saying, "I’d be very surprised if they say this is something they can work with." He added that the message from Canada Post is clear: "They’re really saying, ‘there are going to be layoffs, and this is the best we can do to transition workers.’" The new contract proposal includes a provision for Canada Post to notify CUPW six months in advance of any job losses. It also offers a voluntary departure incentive of up to 78 weeks of pay. Canada Post emphasized that layoffs would only be considered if other measures, such as attrition and departure incentives, do not meet reduction targets. The offer also seeks to give Canada Post the authority to close 494 post offices, most of which had previously been protected from closure. This includes 359 post offices classified as "rural," although many are located in suburban or urban areas. CUPW members had previously voted against what Canada Post termed its "final" offer in August, following a vote mandated by federal jobs minister Patty Hajdu. Canada Post indicated that a counter-offer from CUPW would have resulted in an additional $700 million in costs annually if accepted. The Crown corporation had initially planned to present its latest contract offer last Friday but delayed it after receiving government approval for a broad restructuring. The federal government has authorized Canada Post to eliminate home delivery, increase the use of community mailboxes, and close some rural post offices. Federal procurement minister Joël Lightbound cited "unsustainable" losses as the reason for these reforms and has given Canada Post 45 days to develop an implementation plan. Following the government's announcement, postal workers resumed their national strike for the second time this year. Elements of the restructuring were highlighted in a report by mediator William Kaplan, who described the Crown corporation as "effectively insolvent." This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.