Postal workers union expected to respond to request for forced vote

The union representing 55,000 Canadian postal workers is expected to officially respond today after Canada Post asked Ottawa to force a vote on its latest contract offers.

In a statement last night, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said it “stands solidly against a forced vote,” calling it a heavy-handed government attack on collective bargaining rights.

Earlier this week, Canada Post rejected the union’s proposal for binding arbitration, saying it wouldn’t restore the stability needed to move forward.

The Crown Corporation argued arbitration could drag on for over a year and add to its financial challenges.

The agency presented its “final offers” to the union last Wednesday, with concessions including an end to compulsory overtime and a signing bonus of up to one-thousand dollars.

READ MORE: Labour dispute continues after Canada Post rejects arbitration proposal