Canada Post strike? ‘Not a scenario’ where NDP supports back-to-work bill

globalnews.ca:

Canada Post workers looms, the Crown corporation says it its “operating as normal” while negotiations with the union continue.If a strike does go ahead, at least one opposition party has said it will not support back-to-work legislation.Postal workers will legally be in a strike position as of Sunday, but a 72-hour notice is required under the Canada Labour Code before employees can walk off the job.“Both parties remain at the table and we have not received a notice of strike from the union,” said Valérie Chartrand, a Canada Post spokesperson.“If we receive a strike notice, we will be notifying customers and the public of our plans regarding service,” she told Global News in a statement Friday.On Tuesday, Canada Post presented new offers to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, including higher annual wage increases amounting to 11.5 per cent over four years and protections to workers’ pensions.CUPW’s national president Jan Simpson, told Global News on Thursday that the union is reviewing that offer and will be responding to Canada Post.“We’re still at the bargaining table hopeful to be able to get a negotiated collective agreement for both the urban operations and the rural suburban mail carriers,” she said.A cooling-off period in the labour negotiations will expire on Saturday after which postal workers will legally be in a position to strike.The dispute comes ahead of the busy holiday season, and Canada Post has warned that a labour disruption would have “significant consequences” for millions of Canadians.The federal government has urged both parties to reach a collective agreement and is working to facilitate that outcome.Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon met with Canada Post and CUPW on Thursday.He told reporters on