Canada Post Workers Reject Contract Offer Amid Ongoing Labor Dispute

Ottawa, The Gulf Observer: Unionized workers at Canada Post have rejected the Crown corporation’s final contract offer in two separate votes, prolonging a labor dispute that has stretched over a year and a half.

According to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, 68.5% of urban postal operation workers (23,440 of 34,228 votes) turned down the proposal, while 69.4% of rural and suburban mail carriers (6,342 of 9,142 votes) also voted against the offer. Voter turnout was notably high, with over 80% participation in both groups.

The votes followed the intervention of Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu, who requested the board conduct a formal ballot on the latest offer from Canada Post. The rejected proposal included wage increases of about 13% over four years, but also allowed for the addition of part-time workers, a measure Canada Post argues is essential to sustain operations.

In response to the outcome, Canada Post expressed disappointment, noting that the result “does not lessen the urgent need to modernize and protect this vital national service.” The corporation added that the ongoing uncertainty would continue to affect operations and the Canadians who rely on postal services.

Jan Simpson, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), criticized both the offer and the federal government’s role in the vote. She urged members to reject the deal to uphold the union’s democratic bargaining process. “By saying yes,” she stated, “we tell them that it’s acceptable to ignore free and fair collective bargaining… and trample over your rights as a worker.”

Meanwhile, Dan Kelly, President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, voiced concern over the results, warning that the continued deadlock adds “more uncertainty at a time when small businesses are already struggling to plan ahead.” He called on the federal government to extend the current agreement and empower Canada Post to implement major financial and structural reforms.

The rejected offer places pressure on both parties to return to the negotiating table as Canadians, businesses, and government stakeholders closely watch for the next steps in this critical labor standoff.