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Federal back-to-work legislation may have put an end to postal workers' rotating strikes – but their union is now saying that it is moving to a "non-violent civil disobedience" campaign to enforce its bargaining demands.
In a statement issued Tuesday, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Mike Palecek, said that even if the legal strike ends, the lobbying campaign is just beginning.
"You can not legislate on peace in the workplace, we are moving to a different phase of the struggle," he said.
Union members have been instructed to return to regular work schedules beginning at noon ET today, and to await further instructions.
Canada Post striking workers stay warm by the fire when they walk on the picket line in front of the Saint-Laurent sorting center in Montreal on Thursday, November 15, 2018. (Ryan Remiorz / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
"In the coming days, we will be inviting our allies and members to carry out a campaign of mobilizations, demonstrations and non-violent civil disobedience," said Palecek.
"All options remain at the table to conclude negotiated collective agreements on health and safety, unfair treatment, fair wages and working conditions, and the democratic right to free collective bargaining."
Legal action a possibility
The union also warned that it was considering bringing a lawsuit against the federal back to work law, but did not provide any details.
The rotating strike ended after senators voted Monday night in favor of the Liberal government's bill to force Canada Post employees back to work.
Bill C-89 was debated in the upper house on Saturday after the Liberal government accelerated its pbadage in the House of Commons. The Senate vote was adopted with a margin of 53 to 25, with four senators abstaining as the Canada Post workers' walkouts entered their sixth week.
C-89 imposes fines ranging from $ 1,000 to $ 50,000 a day to anyone found in contravention of the Act, and up to $ 100,000 per day to Canada Post or the union if they are found guilty of violating its provisions.
Canada Post said it was striving to stabilize its operations now that employees are no longer in a legal strike position, but warned that because of the backlog, customers should expect delays in delivery in the coming weeks.
"While Canada Post is working to reduce the backlog, which represents a significant operational challenge, the health and safety of our employees will remain our top priority," reads a news release from the state-owned company. .
Canada Post has stated that hundreds of mail – filled trailers are waiting to be unloaded and that many delivery depots have reached their maximum capacity. The union insists that society is exaggerating the backlog.
Customers should expect package delays during peak holiday season and until January 2019, as existing arrears are expected to worsen this week due to Black Friday and Cyber sales Monday. For international parcels, delays could last until March 2019.
The backlog of mail should be cleared and deliveries updated by December 25, according to Canada Post.
Negotiations between Canada Post and the union have been ongoing for almost a year, but the conflict intensified when CUPW members launched rotating strikes on October 22.
The union wants better pay and job security, guaranteed hours for its 8,000 rural and suburban carriers and equality for these workers with the company's 42,000 urban employees.
CUPW also wants Canada Post to adopt rules that it believes would address workplace injuries – a problem the union has described as a "crisis".
Mike Palecek, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Palecek called the bill back to work slapping the faces of Canada Post employees and accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of turning his back on postal workers.
The former Conservative government put an end to the lockout of postal workers during a conflict in 2011 by enacting a back-to-work legislation, which was subsequently declared unconstitutional by a court.
Labor Minister Patty Hajdu insisted that the liberal legislation was radically different, since it badigned an independent mediator-arbitrator to reach a contractual settlement within 90 days. Otherwise, a settlement could be imposed by the arbitrator.
The Back to Work Bill, known as Bill C-89, sets out "guiding principles" for the mediation / arbitration process, including:
- Protect the health and safety of employees.
- Provide equal pay for work of equal value.
- Fair treatment for temporary, part-time and other employees in atypical jobs as compared to full-time permanent employees.
- Ensure the financial viability of Canada Post.
- Encourage a culture of collaborative working relationships.
- Allow the employer to provide a high quality service at a reasonable price to Canadians.
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