Canada Post lockout deadline extended until Monday

Canada Post is extending its lockout notice to Monday at 12:01 a.m. ET and says it is willing to submit to binding arbitration in an effort to resolve the ongoing labour dispute.

In a statement late Wednesday, the Crown corporation said is was extending its deadline, which had been Friday, in the hopes the Canadian Union of Postal Workers would also agree to binding arbitration.

However, there are no talks planned and Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton said earlier Wednesday the two sides couldn’t be further apart.

Canada Post and the union remain at loggerheads on CUPW’s request for wage increases for rural mail carriers and the pension changes Canada Post says it needs to reduce costs.

The fractious relationship between the Crown corporation and the union, which represents about 50,000 staff at Canada Post, should have come as no surprise to the government.

Public Services Minister Judy Foote was warned three months ago that contract negotiations between Canada Post and CUPW were likely to lead to a strike or lockout, with officials advising the government to avoid taking sides in bargaining.