The Federal Government has given a 48-hour notice to the House of Commons for back-to-work legislation in the Canada Post labour dispute, meaning that the rotating strikes across the country could come to an end soon.
Local CUPW President Matthew Aitken calls it a dirty trick by the Trudeau Government.
“It’s kind of flattering when you realize you’re so important to the economy that the Government has to say that you cannot demand a fair contract anymore because the economy needs you too badly,” says Aitken. “It kind of puts us in a better position going forward. We know that we’re an essential service, and they’re proving it by legislating us back to work.”
He says this legislation would strictly benefit Canada Post, and wouldn't resolve any of the issues that led union workers to strike in the first place.
While reports have suggested that parcel deliveries are facing delays into 2019, Aitken claims those reports are exaggerated.
“They’ve been trying to say that there are 500 to 600 backlogged trailers. We know that the numbers are much smaller than that, and we know that we’re still working in many communities across the country every day, and that mail is still moving. So while the strike may cause delays, it’s not an outright stoppage.”
The Union recently rejected Canada Post's suggested "cooling off" period, which would have included another round of mediation and $1-thousand dollars in cash for each Union member.
Until the Government makes its final decision on possible back-to-work legislation, rotating strikes will continue across the country. Additionally, a federal mediator has been re-assigned to the bargaining table to try and bring the labour dispute to an end.