THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

A Canada Post delivery truck leaves its depot in Montreal on Monday, November 4, 2024.

Canada Post and the union representing its workers comment on how weekend negotiations for a new contract went, with the employer calling them less productive than they hoped and the union saying their employer is focused on flexibility to deliver packages at the lowest possible cost. .

The Crown corporation said in a news release Monday evening that neither party had provided the minimum 72-hour notice of its intent to initiate a work stoppage, but the Canadian Union of Postal Workers reiterated a threat on its website that it “will not hesitate to take the next step” if there is no real movement at the negotiating table.

The issue of delivering packages seven days a week was raised in both statements, with Canada Post saying significant changes are needed to avoid falling behind in the delivery market.

In its statement, the union says its priority is ensuring weekend delivery doesn’t compromise its regular full-time weekday routes, and it says it’s not convinced Post Office’s plan Canada will make this happen.

He says his negotiators also focused on improving a short-term disability plan.

The Postal Workers Union could have been in a legal strike position as early as Sunday.

“The threat of a strike during the holiday season has already had a serious impact on our operations, impacting volumes and revenues and will further deteriorate our financial situation,” Canada Post said in its statement Monday. .

“So far, the union has either been resistant to change or has imposed serious constraints on our flexible delivery proposals, which would negate any potential benefits of change. We remain hopeful that further discussions will lead to progress decisive, but urgency is now required.

The union’s statement said its negotiators remain at the table and the bargaining committee appreciates the “tremendous support from members.”

“Your encouragement has not gone unnoticed,” we can read.

Federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon met last Thursday with the union and Canada Post management to encourage them to reach a negotiated settlement.

The union announced last week that its members had voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike if an agreement could not be reached at the bargaining table.

Canada Post said operations were continuing as normal.