Senate adjourns back-to-work deliberations for Canada Post workers until Monday
Posted November 23, 2018 11:17 pm.
Last Updated November 24, 2018 4:43 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — After a nearly 8 hour-long special Saturday session in the Senate, no decision has been made on whether to force Canada Post workers back on the job.
If no deal is struck in the interim, Bill C-89 will be re-examined by the Senate in a session beginning at 11 a.m. PST on Monday.
The bill would also appoint a mediator-arbitrator to help Canada Post and the union representing its workers come to an agreement. If that fails, the two sides would enter binding arbitration.
Bill C-89 passed third reading by a vote of 166 to 43.
RELATED: Feds table legislation to end Canada Post strikes
The legislative push came as Ottawa, as well as smaller towns in Ontario, B-C, and Quebec became the latest targets of rotating strikes by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
WATCH: Back-To-Work Legislation Threatened In Postal Strike
Labour leaders and New Democrat MPs slammed the Trudeau government — accusing it of undermining the collective-bargaining process.
CUPW maintains the back to work bill is unconstitutional, and is threatening to challenge it in court.
RELATED: ‘We will fight’ in court if back-to-work legislation passes, postal union warns
The union’s rotating strikes have caused massive backlogs of unsorted mail and packages, which Canada Post says could take weeks to clear.
CUPW’s 50-thousand members, in two groups, are demanding better pay for rural and suburban carriers, more job security and minimum guaranteed hours.
