UPDATE: Canada Post Released this statement yesterday, extending the lockout notice until Monday July 11.

"On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, MaryAnn Mihychuk, asked both Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW-Urban and CUPW-RSMC) to submit to binding arbitration to resolve the current impasse at negotiations. Canada Post agreed to voluntarily submit to binding arbitration as an opportunity for both parties to reach an acceptable resolution.

While negotiated settlements are always the preferred option, it has become clear that after seven months of negotiations, the parties remain far apart on key issues at the bargaining table. The uncertainty caused by the prolonged negotiations is having a severe impact on the business, our employees and our customers. 

It is our hope that CUPW will consider submitting to binding arbitration to end the uncertainty. Canada Post is extending the current 72-hour notice period to Monday at 12:01 am to provide time for the union to consider this option. A quick resolution is in the best interest of our employees, our customers and the long-term future of the postal system."

 

Read more on the lockout below. 

 

Due to declining business and and an unmet collective agreement, Canada Post has served it's employees with a 72 hour lockout notice.

The notice could mean that mail services could come to a halt as of Friday, July 8.

Canada Post said in a media release that nearly all of their large e-commerce customers have already moved most or all of their parcel volumes to other carriers, resulting in a volume decline of at least 75 per cent from these customers.

Letter mail is down by as much as 50 per cent in many facilities, due to half the volume of mail being deposited by commercial customers.

With the uncertainty of a strike and the loss of revenue, Canada Post is responding with a 72 hour notice to the union of a change in terms and conditions of employment for all employees represented by the union starting Friday.

As of Friday, the terms and conditions of the current collective agreements will no longer apply.

Under the new terms and conditions employees will still be entitled to their regular pay with the reduction in health benefits, while other items will be cancelled in line with the statutory minimum conditions established under the Canada Labour Code.

On July 4, Canada Post also notified the union that the offer presented on July 25, is the final offer and that the union’s more than $1 billion in demands were unaffordable and therefore rejected.

The Town Of Cochrane is now hoping more locals sign up for email billing, to ensure Cochranites receive their utility bills.

To sign up for ebilling click here.