55,000 Canada Post workers vote on new five‑year contract

Approximately 55,000 postal workers are concluding a ratification vote on a new five-year contract today, bringing a potential end to more than two years of contentious labor negotiations between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and Canada Post. The results of the vote, which began on April 20, are expected to be released on Monday.

The tentative agreement includes wage increases of 6.5 percent and three percent in its first two years. The bargaining process has been marked by prolonged disputes over wages and proposed structural changes to the postal service, leading workers to engage in multiple rounds of strike action over the past two years. During the ratification period, both sides agreed to a truce, refraining from any strikes or lockouts.

However, the path to a resolution remains uncertain due to a split in union leadership. While about 60 percent of the CUPW board has endorsed the deal, stating it ensures job security, the union's president has publicly urged members to reject it. The president argues the agreement rolls back workers' rights and compensation. In a parallel vote, employees are also deciding whether to authorize a strike mandate, which would be...