Labour Minister:The Canada Post strike could end next week

The Canada Post strike could end next  week.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon  says negotiations are not working. It will be up to the Canada Industrial Relations Board to decide  whether to accept it. If  so, it will force  workers back to work.
Postal workers began their strike four weeks ago,  disrupting mail and package  delivery across the country. If  employees are forced to  return to work, they will continue to work under the current collective  bargaining agreement until May 22,  2025.
The two  sides still have  a chance to  reach an agreement, but  it should happen  soon.
The union denounced the  decision, calling it an  "attack" on its bargaining rights. Canada Post said it  looked forward to "welcoming  its employees back to  work."
"A Time Out"
In addition, MacKinnon  ordered an  investigation into why negotiations  broke down. That  investigation will result in recommendations on how the  company and its union can negotiate more productively in the  future. "We are looking for a  break," MacKinnon said.
He said  indigenous people and  residents of remote communities have already suffered  the consequences of the strike. Holiday revenue streams for small businesses and charities  are also  being affected.
"My employers are  Canadians and Canadians are suffering  unfairly in this  conflict."
CUPW said it came to the  bargaining table this week with a  demand for a modest wage  increase — 19 per cent  in four years, down from  its previous  demand of 24 per cent  — and  demands for  sick leave, disability  benefits and  "enhanced rights" for temporary  workers.
Canada Post said the union's  demands were too  high, especially after six years of financial  losses. "In total, all the demands  contained in  the CUPW's latest offers cost more than $3 billion over four years," reads Canada Post's  latest bargaining update, published  Wednesday.
Union condemns 'attack' on  negotiations
The union denounced  MacKinnon's decision "in the strongest  terms," calling it an  "attack" on its right to bargain and  strike.
"This order  is part of a  very troubling  trend in which the government  is using its arbitrary powers to let employers drag their  feet and refuse to  negotiate in good faith with  their workers and unions,"  it said in a statement sent to  CTVNews.ca.
In August, the government forced rail workers back to work after a contract dispute  led to the shutdown of trains on Canada's two major  railways.
In November, MacKinnon  attacked dock workers in Vancouver and  Montreal before the Industrial Relations Board. "Once we receive the order, we will review it and consider  all available  options moving forward," the union wrote.
Canada Post ready to  participate "fully"
Canada Post  seemed eager to  get back to work, adding  that it was reviewing the terms of MacKinnon's order to "support  this process as  expeditiously as  possible."
"As this unfolds, we look forward to welcoming our employees back to work and serving Canadians and customers,"  it said in a statement  released to  the media on  Friday.
The company said it was committed to reaching  an agreement with the  unions that  addresses "changing needs" while  providing "good jobs"  for workers.