Canada Post strike: Talks deadlocked as sides clash on wages

Negotiations between Canada Post and the union representing its workers appear to be in a deadlock as the two sides remain far apart on wages and other issues.

Negotiations between Canada Post and the union representing its workers appear deadlocked as the two sides remain far apart on wages and other issues.

On Monday, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) unveiled its latest wage proposal: an increase of 19 per cent over four years, dropping its previous demands of 24 per cent.

But Canada Post, beleaguered by six years of financial losses, says that figure is still too high.

"Canada Post has offered wage hikes of 11.5 per cent over four years," reads a release from the company sent to media on Wednesday.

"Your Negotiators are working hard to get an agreement members can ratify," read a release from the union to members describing its latest demands. "We need Canada Post to meet us there."

The strike is nearing its fourth week. Some 55,000 workers are off the job. The effects are wide-ranging: the Salvation Army of Canada says holiday donations are down 50 per cent, Service Canada says new passports requested by mail will be sent when the strike ends and millions of package deliveries have been halted.

In addition to the wage hike, the union is asking for a cost-of-living allowance, 10 medical days in addition to the seven personal days in the collective agreement, an increase to short-term disability payments to 80 per cent of regular wages and "improved rights" for temporary workers.