THUNDER BAY — The federal government is stepping in to resolve the Canada Post strike.
Four weeks into the strike and more than a year into negotiations, Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon said "Canadians are rightly fed up."
In his view, said MacKinnon, talks have reached an impasse. If the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) agrees they could order striking Canada Post employees back to work.
"The Federal Mediator has now informed me that the negotiations between both parties are now, in fact, going in the wrong direction," said MacKinnon.
MacKinnon announced at a media conference Friday that he has asked the CIRB to make a determination that there is an impasse and to "order Canada Post and all employees represented by CUPW (Canadian Union of Postal Workers) to resume and continue their operations and duties and to extend the terms of the existing collective agreements until May 22nd 2025."
If that happens, an inquiry would be established to examine the current labour dispute and report back to the federal government in the spring with a potential resolution.
CUPW Local 620 President Leo Favreau is disappointed by the federal government's decision but hopeful something positive could come from an inquest.
"I would like to see, honestly, everything that's happened in this last year investigated and, and I would like some answers myself," he told Dougall Media.
The local union represents over 260 employees in northwestern Ontario that work at Canada Post.
