Canada Post workers approve new collective agreements

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have voted to accept tentative collective agreements covering the Urban and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers bargaining units.

Canada Post is preparing to sign the new agreements, which vice-president of communications and stakeholder engagement Jon Hamilton said provide stability for employees and customers after a lengthy round of negotiations.

“We’re very pleased that the employees have voted in favour of the agreements that we negotiated with CUPW. It means that our urban and rural workers have new agreements in place.”

Hamilton said the agreements bring certainty following more than two years of labour negotiations and allow Canada Post to focus on improving service and rebuilding customer confidence.

“For employees, that gives stability. It’s been a difficult couple of years, and for our customers, who have really been impacted over the last 2 years, it means that we can start to begin, and regain their trust and provide a better service and move forward trying to fix the postal service for Canadians.”

The agreements will remain in effect until 2029.

Hamilton said employees will receive wage increases and improved benefits, while Canada Post will be able to introduce operational changes, including weekend delivery using part-time employees.

“We can start to introduce things like weekend delivery with a part-time employee and make a number of other changes.”

He said the corporation now faces the challenge of modernizing its operations while winning back customers.

“We have our work cut out, not only to earn back the business of Canadians but also to transform and fix the postal service for future generations.”

Hamilton thanked Canadians for their patience throughout the negotiations.

“A big thank you to Canadians right across the country for their patience. Canada Post is going through major changes.” he said.

“Obviously it was a difficult round of negotiations lasting over 2 years, but we now have agreements, our employees do a great job, and they’ll be out serving and we’ll be doing everything we can to earn their business of customers and get out and restore the postal service to what it should be.”