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With the busiest mail time of the year on the horizon, Canada Post can no longer guarantee its delivery times.
The company suspended delivery time guarantees to its customers today as talks with its unionized workforce continue to make little to no progress.
"Despite lengthy discussions and continued proposals by Canada Post to respond to the union’s demands through three rounds of mediation, we are still no closer to a deal," the agency said in an emailed statement.
"Unfortunately, the growing impact of the union’s rotating strikes on postal operations across the country means Canada Post must suspend its service−delivery guarantees until further notice."
Canada Post employees are now into week four of rotating strikes, which resumed on the east coast on Monday, but ended at a Vancouver processing centre on Tuesday.
Shutdowns in Vancouver and Toronto continue to have the biggest impact on service and more than 180 trailers containing packages and mail were left idle in Toronto alone as of today.
Even with a special mediator involved, CUPW president Mike Palecek said that contract talks made little progress in recent weeks.
"In spite of the continued assistance of the mediator over the weekend, Canada Post still refuses to address our major issues of health and safety, staffing, over−burdening, job security, a reduction in precarious employment, fair wages for all and a better work−life balance," Palecek said in a statement.
"While we remain at the bargaining table, ready to negotiate with Canada Post, we will not sit back in silence. This fight is not over."
Despite those remarks, Canada Post has repeatedly said it’s made “significant” wage, benefit and job-security proposals.
It may not be long before the federal government steps in, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned last week.
He said that if progress isn’t made soon, his government could intervene, but didn’t say what action might be taken.
With files from the Canadian Press.
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