After nine months of negotiations Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have reached a tentative short term agreement.

The agreements will only last two years, as opposed to a regular four year contract negotiated in the past.

Canada Post said in a statement released on Tuesday Aug. 30, the new agreements will avoid a work disruption, and give the Crown corporation more time to discuss solutions for the future.

"The issues facing the Corporation, with declining mail volumes and a growing pension obligation, are complex," the statement reads. "This approach provides more time for thoughtful discussion and analysis on how to best address these issues without the ongoing threat of a work disruption. The agreements must be ratified by members."

If the two parties hadn't reached a tentative agreement, employees were planning taking job action by refusing to work overtime.