CUPW negotiations: Discussions continue
November 5, 2024, 05:46 pm
87 comments
Discussions continued with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) through the weekend. While the negotiations were less productive than we had hoped for, neither side has provided notice (minimum 72 hours) of their intent to start a labour disruption.
The parties remain at the table. Today, Canada Post received counter offers from CUPW for both the Urban and RSMC (Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers) bargaining units. Canada Post is reviewing the counter proposals, which came in response to the most recent global offers presented to CUPW on October 29.
Operations continue as usual
Our regular business operations continue. It would be at least three days (minimum 72 hours) after a notice is issued or received before any labour disruption could begin. We remain committed to providing you with updates as quickly as possible as negotiations evolve.
Uncertainty taking a toll on the business
We remain committed to negotiating agreements without a labour disruption, but the threat of a disruption during the holiday shipping season has already had a serious effect on our business. It’s impacted volumes and revenue and will further deteriorate our financial situation.
Retailers require certainty for their shipments at this critical time of year and are moving their parcels to other delivery companies. Customers have also cancelled direct marketing campaigns to avoid having items stuck in the postal network in the event of a labour disruption. Our overall volumes are down significantly and continue to erode.
Changes required to our delivery model
To secure a stronger future for Canada Post, significant change is required to our delivery model, or the company will fall further behind in today’s demanding parcel delivery market. That’s why the company is negotiating a more flexible delivery model that would allow affordable seven-day-a-week parcel delivery, with more competitive pricing and other important service improvements for our customers.
A flexible delivery model to grow our parcel business is essential to being able to afford what we’ve put forward for current employees. We’ve proposed a balanced approach where current employees would make gains and not lose ground on what matters most to them. Our proposals for current employees include wage increases, enhanced leave entitlements, and protection of your defined benefit pension and job security provisions.
Remaining hopeful for a breakthrough
The company has also proposed that employees hired in the future would receive a competitive compensation package that would include a less costly approach to pension and benefits, including in post-retirement.
To date, our flexible delivery proposals have been met with resistance or constraints that would negate any potential benefits of the change. We remain hopeful that further discussions will afford a breakthrough, but urgency is required. Our deteriorating financial situation could require the company to revisit its proposals.
More information
Watch for further updates on the Negotiations Hub or in mailings to your home. On the Negotiations Hub, you can also sign up for email updates, directly to your inbox.
CUPW Urban
Lock out and abratration
Last I looked CP can borrow another 1 to 1.5 billion then they need a vote in parliament……Tick tock…..tick tock….
The Math does not add Up for me with the weekend delivery. The Postman needs to be more productive yes I get it…The Company went from Parcels are labour and real estate intensive to Fight for every Parcel.
Heres my Plan shutter Gateway….Revamp Admail….weekend delivery….Maybe…….with cost analyses….
I think CP should restructure the Admail Business. It should be certain sizes that are run Through the MLOCR somehow. (The Bag and Can Tire flyers) turn customers off Re the volume in these 2 items. Plus they are a safety Hazard do to vision constraint …….Raise the price of the bigger flyers …….The private companies on my route don’t do big flyers…They probably can’t compete with CP cut rate pricing…..I think they are mis priced considering the liability!
“Retailers require certainty for their shipments at this critical time of year and are moving their parcels to other delivery companies.”
Remember that YOU waited to make an offer, a joke of one at that, only after a year of bargaining. So you’ve put yourself in this situation. I’m happy to take my time and get a contract that is fair
The union made no progress during that year, the councilator brought the offer, get over yourself. You sound like a national rep, this is the same tactic they use over and over. All the unions went threatened strike action this year and got what they wanted in a month or less, our Union went to Cuba to party because they claim to be tired.. Where’s the member trip to Cuba..? The union wants a strike to put stress on the workers and blame the corporation. How many times we had a reasonable offer from CPC and the union didn’t even allow us to vote and got us worse. It will go to arbitration and we’ll lose again, this is not a union for its members, they’re for themselves.. Time to get them out and bring in a strong union.. Teamsters deals with logistics and are experienced, unlike these poorly organized representatives that send our to Ukraine and communist factions.. We should be in control of our money, not the union spending it wherever they want.. Management should also cut those responsible for the costs of Albert Jackson and remove their bonuses because of this loss.. First we need a union that cares and CUPW does NOT…!!!
Agree 100%!
This union never negotiates competently. They could have been bargaining a year ago when inflation was still high instead of waiting until now, when it’s down to 2.5%. Even now we could get 15 or 16% if we would simply finish this deal. Instead CUPW seems hell-bent to push this to a strike/ lock-out and ensure everyone loses lots of money and the company loses even more business. Then we’ll end up with less than Canada Post’s current offer. As usual. But don’t worry CUPW is holding some rallys, so they can march around screaming and yelling! Instead of using their time amd energy to negotiate a contract. They never change!
I’m sorry I think CUPW is overreacting where the increase is concerned. Do I think we deserve a decent wage increase? Absolutely!! But we can’t be unreasonable. I have an idea, one way to help members is, how about Cupw lowers our dues instead of raising them again??!!! They collect a heck of alot. Stop and calculate, it is an enormous amount. That’s one way cupw can help it’s brother’s and sisters. I do think they fight for us but it’s a lot of money. Where is it all?? Oh I know, Cuba? Or wherever else they have “conventions “.
Cupw should charge a user fee. it’s always the same employees who need their help.
I love this idea
Greatest idea ever!
And union dues should be pro-rate like most unions. So unfair for new casuals getting only one work offer and just goes to union dues.
55,000 members x $80 ( just an average) dues every month = $4.4 million every month. The salaries of the NEB and their pension, yes you read that correct, is being funded by us. I wonder how their pension compares to ours.
Agree
Exactly!
I hope both sides push forward with urgency as we need to be relent in order to be around for the future.
We got porta pottys at our location. I believe the union should be asking for our vote on this upcoming response from the company. If they arbitrarily strike I will be livid. Very easy to get a vote it’s called google forms
That would be way too advanced for CUPW. Besides anyone who’s been around for a while knows CUPW only lets us vote on settlement or imposed contract, after the strike/ lock-out has gone on for weeks and we’ve all lost thousands of dollars each. That’s what they always do.
I agree, the members should have the final say and not the few negotiators
All I want to see is the invoices for the porta pottys….And maybe inspect them for toilet paper inventory!
Can’t wait for the iron maiden t-shirts, greasy hair, leather jackets, and the inexhaustible supply of skids to burn! …Where do they find these people
We all need to sacrifice on both sides to make a deal work, but the almost intentional sabotaging of the company by top directors and their ridiculous proven ineffective changes such as ‘SSD’ has reduced worker appetite for sacrifice.
People can make do with less if they have faith and hope that it is for a purpose, but management’s incompetency has erased that faith. Things will only get worse on the current trajectory so everyone just wants to grab as much as they can now.
Anyone that worked at different places knows we are blessed to have a lot of hardworking reasonable letter carriers, clerks and front line management like supervisors. I know people have anecdotal exceptions, but generally the people that work here are exceptional in my view.
Personally, I would take a 0% raise in return for top management stepping down and being replaced. It would be worth it because the company would have a future.
‘It was Covid, it was this, it was that’ -NO! It was poor decisions by a management that is unwilling or unable to respond to the needs of their customers and employees.
Dont even get me started on CUPW that’s a whole other scandal.
Yes but management is constrained by the Government and a union that wants higher wages and lower or stagnant productivity……While the competition is getting more productive through automation….Most of our revenue is through competition not the monopoly side……And the government tells us what to do but doesn’t provide any $$$$$……Not managements fault they are stuck between monopoly or competition Land…..
If it’s not ‘management’s’ fault and they ‘can’t do anything’ It is time to replace them with people that can.
They aren’t even able to optimize their core business. There needs to be accountability. Business environments are tough that is why competent managers deserve large salaries. Understand they are not be paid to make excuses.
Yes the business has entrenched advantages and disadvantages I have never seen one thoughtful discussion addressing this. Just frivolous blame. Almost like management would like to one day work for their buddies at CUPW.
I think both sides of this are being too greedy. Maybe moreso the union at this point. Latest proposal is a little ridiculous. I’m all for a 22% raise, who wouldn’t be. But let’s be realistic please.
Exactly!!
Yesss
A 22% RAISE IS REALISTIC!!! WAKE UP GUY!!!
No, sorry to say but it isn’t. If CUPW was smart they would have been negotiating a year ago when inflation was still high. They could have got more than, but they blew it, just like they always do. Now inflation is back down to 2.5%. If our union wants a settlement they’ll realise that 15 or 16% is a reasonable amount and finish the deal, instead of wasting everyone’s time. If we lose weeks or months of pay, any raise won’t matter, we’ll all be behind. Just like so many times before with this union!
Really why
Boeing just received 35% over 4 years.
Boeing is not insolvent
The workers at Boeing are highly skilled machinists. Boeing is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world. They are worth 100 times the value of Canada Post. The comparison is not relevant.
Yes… It is. Do gig workers deserve 35%? How about retail workers? Or do yousimply base your wage entitlement on education? Just because a job is not ‘highly skilled’ doesnt mean their not entitled to a living wage…and 35% still wouldnt bring these workers to a point where they can feed their families without a food bank, own a car, and own a $700 000 home. You should spend more time examing the affordablity crisis in this country, and less time in the supervisors office.
For a Flyer delivery guy wake up 22 percent over 4 years no skills needed with little volume
A 22% raise is just fair for 4-yrs considering of the inflation. Plus, remember we only got 4% raise for the past 2 yrs.
canada post has more supervisors than employees. it is time to stop this foolishness.
You know that’s not true, although maybe they have to many. Canada Post is probably top-heavy especially at the director and vice-president level but 90+ % of wages go to CUPW members. The main issue for the company should be maintaining and then growing revenue. That’s the only way our company will be sustainable in the long term. Both sides need to reach an agreement without a disruption ASAP!
Not true, but we do have too many bosses and also way too many lazy workers who are CUPWs biggest supporters.
Yes that is definitely true. CUPW does do a good job protecting terrible workers. They do almost nothing for the 90% of members who are good workers, other than take our $1200 in dues every year.
Yes, the good employees don’t need cupw, only the lazy and incompetent do!
and canada post has more employees than mail
Not my motive to offend anyone, but i need to speak the truth.
Lets admit both sides are to blame. Management for the poor state of the operations. What were they doing all these years. Were they hoping lettermail volumes will pick up again magically or there would never be any competition in the market.
And, CUPW. Yes, its good for the union to put forward their demands and they should be accepted if reasonable. But, CUPW seems to be living in their own fantasy world and are not able to grasp why weekend delivery is needed ( for example, have you seen Amazon delivering on Sundays? yes they do with less pay and benefits than CP employees and look at their market share)
CUPW is looking at short term gains rather than the long term picture which is the survival of Canada Post.
We all need to sacrifice just a little bit for the greater good of the company and its employees, otherwise we can all look for other jobs in the market (they are not that many)
You should keep your comments to yourself inside your small brain. I’m shocked that as a Canadian you think we should be admiring Amazon work culture And conditions. You should be ashamed.
Wow that’s harsh, I agree with that statement and as a matter of fact maybe CUPW should lower our dues, way too high.
Is Canada Post a service for Canadians or a for profit company.
In the minds of management, a for profit company.
If in their minds it is a ‘for profit’ company why don’t they ever come close to turning a profit?
They have no answer, just weak excuses.
The answer is yes
it doesnt get any funding help, so it cant lose money consistently. If you want a service, its never going to be profitable
STOP trying to punish employees — PUNISH the bloated management structure of the company!
CORRECT!!!!!
This surley is a rollar coaster.
No more bonus money for managers.
CLAW BACK any bonuses management got in the last 6 years of corporation losses!!!
Do you even know what you are saying? There is no company without leadership and they need to be paid, either in larger salary or smaller with a variable based on targets. That isnt a bonus but a bargained benefit for the company. It rewards actually achieving targets instead of just showing up for work and getting paid. You know how that is right?
these bonuses are getting earned by employee that are outside by there hardwork not by some1 delegating. Canada post can actually put in robots to delegate that wont cost them a lot of money and wont have to pay bonuses to hit targets..
Listen either lock out or strike this is totally crazy I think cupw wants to for one
Stop dragging your behinds Canada post while playing the victim. Time to properly pay your employees that actually make you your money. Enough with fake crying poor fake losing money bs. You handed out bonuses like water so stop with the squeezing your workers crap
How do you make money for the company exactly?
CUPW wants Canada Post to hire more new people so they can waste members money on costly travel and expenses to regional and national conferences.
Plus, waste money paying for a union hall they never use for General Membership Meetings.
We have yet to have one in the hall located at 4238 Lozells Avenue Burnaby, BC.
CUPW Vancouver executive members are just as useless as Canada Post Corporate executives.
As a postie, I feel utterly angry at the incompetence of the people in charge in both sides.
Get this deal done now.
P.S. Stop hiring useless and lazy new people who don’t care about the job Canada Post.
I can’t help but feel there are many CUPW execs and those on the negotiating team who want the talks to fail. Yesterday it was a demand for four more personal days. Today it’s a 22% wage increase. If Canada Post’s latest offer is 11.75%, than the two sides could meet at 15 or 16%. The longer they drag this nonsense out, the more business we lose and the more stress is put on the CUPW members actually doing work. Does our union forget that we as members are paying $1200 a year each for their so called ‘representation’? Is it possible for both sides to act like adults instead of four year olds throwing tantrums?
Agreed
Agreed!! The union is all about the drama! It’s like they want to justify their existence and show everyone ‘look how well we are spending your $1200/yr’. Reality check CUPW, you’re NOT!
Exactly, why is always they can never figure out what is fair for everyone before everyone looses. I actually love my job.
%True
they are hiring people left front and center. Why would a company hire more employees when they dont have volume to deliver.
Because all those people in all those jobs need something to do. The abundance of HR personal is absurd. Have you seen their organizational tree? The amount of trainers, what would we do with all these people? We hire and keep the ball moving so these overpaid, overstaffed group of people have something to do! There is so much fat on the bone beyond supervisors and superintendents and managers and directors and VP’s. Tech services play cards, smoke or sleep depending on their shift of choice while waiting to push a stick parcel off of a belt. What about all the administrative and clerical jobs that are overstated and abused. The abundance of government waste in this corporation is unparalleled! So many old timers that make a day out of socializing and talking the talk like they actually matter and are making any type of difference by bringing a warm body to the office everyday is disgusting. PO4’s, I’m comparison to any private company are over staffed by at least 60%. What this company has defined as work and the egregious abuse the company lets these workers get away with is criminal! The entire company needs a makeover. To the point anyone that has anyone self respect should be happy to find another job just so we can crush half of this pathetic workforce at all levels that are essentially burying the whole company.
You made your point, but you forgot the letter carriers who work 4-5 hrs and get paid for 8. I agree with all your comments, but if you’re going to cut down everyone then be thorough. LCs abuse the system too. There’s waste right across the board.
Same with RSMCs work 3 hours and get paid for 6 and a vehicle allowance. Yes they work hard but where can you go to work and get paid when you are not there.
These clowns are dreaming. Listen to your members. We care about the PENSION
CUPW just wants to make everyone suffer. Far reaching asks. Times are changing cpc is changing to. Stop with supervisors get bonuses apply then ? 22 vice presidents, get over it already. They should let us vote on the offer this before us.
new offer is good from cupw..
So good that it hasn’t been posted.
NO! There are still many outstanding issues!!!
Yes, it is asking for too much and gives nothing back. Terrible offer
COORECTION! THE OFFER IS GOOD FROM CUPW!!!
Good if we can attain it. But give your head a shake CUPW, not going to happen, unreal that we are so far apart. These 2 side better get it together real quick, nice that this thing will be arbitrated and we won’t get a sniff of a raise until 2027 when it’s settled. And CP will be gutted because of this labour dispute, then we’ll all be reduced to having to do weekend work because they won’t be able to afford new employees. The arbitrator will give Canada post everything that they want guaranteed!! Wake up!!
Stop with the sky is falling sensationalism. CPC is full of it and lying through their teeth. How does any company pay out huge bonuses to managent if doing so badly. Don’t be fooled by their anti employee propaganda.
It’s pathetic how both the corporation and the union are dragging their feet on getting this deal done.
What sucks more is the amount of useless hires on top of corporation. There are too many useless supervisors.
My favourite comment from a sup after I expressed concern about the disorganization of corporate mailboxes was “if you ignore it, it will go away.” Here we are still haven’t fixed the ongoing problems these past two years.
Plus, customers complain about the price of post office boxes and about 3/4 of the boxes in the retail post offices stay empty. How’s about giving customers two months free if they rent a box for 1 year?
I agree. Stop paying out bonuses, if you claim you are losing money.
Plus, the cost of mailing parcels across Canada is far too expensive compared to other private courier services. The price of stamps has gone up far too much. Forget about mailing Christmas cards this year or any other year from now on. It’s far cheaper to call, FaceTime or email. Thanks Canada Post for making mailing letters or cards obsolete.
mailing letters and cards was going away since 2008. Not something they wanted or could control. Raising the lettermail price is the smartest thing they can do, since only those that need it use it. The cost of shipping parcels is more expensive with CPC, did you stop to think why that is? Not the bonus money, nobody can prove exists, or the company charging too much. What could it be????
Where are these bonuses you speak of? Does anyone actually know of any bonuses or it it done legendary myth? Doesn’t seem real
You can look it up , public knowledge
You assume that it will be arbitrated but I am not so sure on that. NDP has quite clearly told the Liberals to stay out of it or they wont support them on any non confidence votes. That will then in turn force a snap election if they do interfere which will put the P.C’s in power since they already have the support of the block. I don’t think I need to tell you how it will go with the P.C’s in power now do I especially in 2 years when this rolls around again with them in power.
Either way, it will not go well and I think going to drag on for some time time. There are no volumes to speak of so no panic to settle this really.
Strange how the arbitrator sided with CUPW in the last lockout (2018)… you can end your chicken little act now.