The federal labour minister says the government will remain on the sidelines as the Canada Post strike nears four weeks.
On Wednesday, Steven MacKinnon told reporters that Canadians are fed up with the countrywide strike by more than 55,000 workers, but that it's up to the two parties to get a deal done.
The federal government has been under pressure from business groups to intervene in the strike, as it has done in recent high-profile labour disputes.
Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have been in a war of words in recent days as federal mediation remains on pause.
On Wednesday, Canada Post said the union's new demands are unaffordable and unsustainable, claiming they would cost more than $3 billion over four years at a time when the postal service is struggling financially.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers had pushed back on Canada Post's earlier criticism of its latest proposals in a bulletin to members Tuesday evening, giving a list of proposals it said are meant to bring the two parties closer together.
Canada Post said Monday that the union's proposals widen the gap between the two parties, and that in some cases, the union has increased its demands.
The union said its latest proposals included wage increases below what was previously demanded, as well as a cost-of-living allowance and better job security.
The union's latest wage demands total 19 per cent over four years. Canada Post said it recognizes this is a step lower than before but said its own recent proposal offered 11.5 per cent over four years.
Canada Post also pushed back on other demands from the union, including reiterating its proposal to create new jobs to support an expansion into weekend delivery.
The proposed expansion has been a key sticking point in negotiations, with the two sides unable to come to an agreement over how to staff the weekend.
MacKinnon said Wednesday he wants to see the two sides to take negotiations seriously.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also pressed the government on Wednesday, asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during Question Period whether he would "sit the two sides down, get a deal and put an end to this dreadful strike."
"We believe that the best deals happen at the bargaining table," Trudeau responded.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024.
The Canadian Press
