Canada Post has extended its 72-hour lockout notice to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) to Monday, July 11, at noon.
The announcement came Wednesday after the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, MaryAnn Mihychuk, asked both Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW-Urban and CUPW-RSMC) to submit to binding arbitration to resolve the current impasse at negotiations.
Canada Post said it agreed to voluntarily submit to binding arbitration as an opportunity for both parties to reach an acceptable resolution.
CUPW, however, responded Thursday, saying it was politely declining the suggestion of binding arbitration, saying it was a matter of principle.
In the event of a full work disruption, Canada Post said it will not operate and that mail and parcels will not be delivered, and no new items will be accepted.
The Canada Revenue Agency has deemed Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, Working Income Tax Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit cheques “essential”— even during a labour disruption.
Spokesman Jon Hamilton said Canada Post has a memorandum of agreement with the union “where the federal socio-economic cheques will be delivered.”
“In the event of a work disruption we would arrange ... delivery one day of the month,” he said Monday.