Monday November 19 2018

Union Rejects Binding Arbitration!

For Immediate Release

Ottawa – The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is calling on Canada Post to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a settlement now.

“We will not accept binding arbitration to resolve our issues with Canada Post. We have the right to collective bargaining and to settle this through negotiations,” says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. “We are confident that an agreement can be reached, if only Canada Post would address the issues and stop looking for ways not to negotiate.”

This morning, Canada Post proposed a “cooling-off” period effective immediately and lasting through January 31, followed by binding arbitration if no settlement is reached by then.

“We aren’t doing this to harm the public, but the proposal asks our members to go back to work at the heaviest and most stressful time of year, under the same conditions that produce the highest injury rate in the federal sector. It asks women to continue to do work for free. How can we do that?”adds Palecek.

CUPW negotiators have proposed concrete solutions to the major issues – the injury crisis, gender inequality, overburdening and precarious work – which Canada Post has rejected.

“Canada Post should focus on delivering fair collective agreements. Our issues are ones that everyone out there will relate to,” continues Palecek. “Our members need to see their families at the end of the day, our RSMC members must be paid for all the hours that they work. We must be able to deliver Christmas without relying so heavily on precarious employment, without the highest rate of debilitating injuries,”says Palecek