Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon announced this morning that he is “calling a timeout” in the ongoing Canada Post strike, with media reports detailing his request for the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to end the nearly month-long work stoppage involving about 55,000 employees.
MacKinnon stated that negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have reached an impasse, with talks moving “in the wrong direction.” He has asked the CIRB to assess the situation and, if it agrees that no progress is possible, to issue an order for union members to return to work until May.
Media reports also indicate that the federal government is launching an inquiry to determine why both sides have failed to reach an agreement.
MacKinnon highlighted the strike’s significant impact on small businesses, remote communities, and Indigenous peoples across Canada. He called on the CIRB to make a quick decision, expressing optimism that mail delivery services could resume by next week.