OTTAWA — Unionized Canada Post employees thanked the NDP on Saturday for delaying a vote on legislation to send the 50,000 locked-out workers back on the job.
In a letter to NDP leader Jack Layton, the president of the union said the stalling tactics bought them time, but it hasn’t been enough to end the impasse.
“During the evening of June 24, we held extensive discussions,” Denis Lamelin wrote, noting the union, Labour Minister Lisa Raitt and federal mediation services also met Saturday morning. “Despite your efforts and the support and solidarity activities of tens of thousands of people across the country, the negotiations were unsuccessful.”
New Democrat MP Yvon Godin said Saturday the party was pleased it was able to give the workers “three days’ space.
“This discussion created negotiations between the union of the postal workers and the Canada Post. Sadly, negotiations broke.”
Because the feuding sides haven’t been able to reach an agreement, the union has asked the NDP to move the process forward so amendments to the bill can be introduced.
NDP deputy leader Thomas Mulcair said his party would now begin to propose amendments to parts of the bill — specifically the wage increases government wrote into it.
The wage increases Raitt proposed were lower than the most recent offer Canada Post put on the table.
This movement brings Canadians one step closer to having their mail service back, but if the ruling Conservatives and Opposition are still not willing to play ball, the filibuster, which has tied up the House of Commons since Thursday evening, will continue.
The Liberals said they, too, will be presenting amendments to the bill, but wouldn’t say whether they would support those brought by the NDP.
Layton launched into his first stalling tactic around 8:30 p.m. Thursday when he presented the “hoist motion,” which would have put the bill to bed — as if it had been defeated — for six months.
As soon as Raitt introduced the bill on Monday — less than one week after the employees were locked out — the NDP vowed to draw out the debate to allow postal workers and their managers more time to strike their own deal instead of being bound to one written by the government.
Opposition MPs have condemned the bill’s proposed wage hikes, and the bill as a whole, saying they undermine the right to collective bargaining.
But the main sticking point over the bill is the wage settlements the federal government has written in.
Canada Post locked out its employees on June 14, after the Canadian Union of Postal Workers conducted 12 days of rotating strikes.
The Crown corporation blamed the two weeks of rotating strikes for estimated losses of $100 million.
Canada Post and the union went through seven months of failed negotiations before the rotating strikes began.
Aside from wages, changing the sick leave plan has also caused contention between the two sides; Canada Post had fought for a short-term disability plan to replace the practice of banking sick days.
aminsky@postmedia.com
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