Unionized employees at Canada Post have turned down the latest contract proposal from the Crown corporation in two separate voting sessions. The rejection rate among urban postal workers was 68.5%, with 80.4% of eligible voters participating. Meanwhile, 69.4% of rural and suburban mail carriers voted against the offer, with an 82.8% turnout.
The decision follows over 18 months of negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), representing approximately 55,000 postal workers. In response to the voting outcome, a Canada Post spokesperson expressed disappointment and stated that the corporation would assess its next actions.
Despite the offer including a 13% wage increase over four years, it was not accepted. Additionally, the proposal aimed to introduce part-time employees to support the sustainability of the postal service.
Voting commenced on July 21 after federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu intervened to facilitate a vote on Canada Post’s revised offer. CUPW’s national president, Jan Simpson, had encouraged workers to oppose the proposal to safeguard the bargaining process integrity and criticized the government’s interference.
The rejection has caused concern among stakeholders, with Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, emphasizing the need for stability, especially for small businesses. He urged the government to extend the current collective agreement and empower Canada Post to implement essential financial reforms promptly.