OTTAWA — Citing what it claims is intransigence by management, the union representing 54,000 workers at Canada Post announced Friday that it has applied for conciliation, a move that starts the clock ticking towards a possible strike this spring.
“We’ve taken this action because Canada Post has to move from its hardline position on demanding significant concessions from our members, even while it continues to post profits and spend money on technological changes,” said Denis Lemelin, national president and chief negotiator for the union.
A government-appointed conciliator will now attempt to bring the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Canada Post Corp. to a negotiated settlement.
However, the union also noted that the appointment of a conciliator starts the clock ticking towards a possible strike or lockout by the end of April.
Canada Post issued a statement saying it “welcomes the assistance of a conciliator in our discussions with CUPW and is optimistic it will help us reach a negotiated settlement.”
CUPW said that among concessions Canada Post is demanding is the replacement of sick leave with a short-term disability plan.
Management is also insisting on new work methods that the union considers unsafe — methods that have already “created huge problems and disruptions of mail service in Winnipeg, where they were first implemented last year.”
Rollbacks demanded by management also include the imposition of a defined contribution pension plan for new hires rather than the current defined benefit plan.
“The union is adamant in its rejection of a two-tier system,” CUPW said in a news release.
“Canada Post wants to eliminate the current pension plan for new hires now and then impose the new scheme on all employees during a future round of bargaining,” Lemelin said.
“We have to take a strong stand now to maintain our public postal service and ensure that future workers will not suffer a deterioration in their working conditions.”
Friday’s move by the union comes just days after the government-owned corporation announced the appointment of a new CEO. Deepak Chopra, formerly president and CEO of the Canadian and Latin American regions of Pitney Bowes, a global mailing and communications firm, begins his five-year term beginning Feb. 1.
At the time, CUPW said it had requested a get-acquainted meeting with Chopra to highlight some key concerns.
“We think the corporation needs a management that understands that Canada Post is, first and foremost, a public service,” said Lemelin, adding that it “also needs a management that is willing to sit down with the union and solve problems.”