Canada Post
agrees to 30-
day extension
OTTAWA — Canada Post in-
formed the Canadian Union
of Postal Workers (CUPW) it
was prepared to negotiate in-
tensively for the next 30 days
under an extended "cooling off
period" to reach negotiated set-
tlements. However, if the par-
ties are unable to successfully
conclude negotiations within
that period, both parties must
agree to binding arbitration.
Canada Post and the union
have been in discussions since
late 2015, with 60 days of concili-
ation and almost 30 more days
with federal mediators.
OPSSU rejects
tentative
agreement
with OPSEU
TORONTO — The union
that represents more than
350 workers at Ontario Pub-
lic Service Employees Union
(OPSEU) offices has rejected a
proposed four-year deal with a
68 per cent majority.
The Ontario Public Service
Staff Union (OPSSU) received a
strong mandate to return to the
table, said first vice-president
Pati Habermann.
"Our employer cannot buy
labour peace with a four-year
deal. Our members have indi-
cated clearly that this tentative
agreement is unacceptable," said
Habermann.
Despite the bargaining team
recommending the proposed
deal, OPSSU members said it
falls short of what it considers an
acceptable offer.
Key issues discussed before the
tentative agreement was reject-
ed included a failure to address
high levels of non-com-
pensated overtime, inadequate
language around the issue of
workplace harassment and the
length of the proposed deal, said
the union.
OPSSU has not voted down an
agreement in 20 years. The cur-
rent collective agreement expired
on June 30, 2016. OPSSU recently
voted to increase available strike
funds to $1.7 million at a general
membership meeting.
OPSSU represents perma-
nent, part-time, contract/tem-
porary and on-call workers at
OPSEU's head office in Toronto
and at 19 regional OPSEU offices
across Ontario.
Staff at
Sudbury
YMCA
join OPSEU
SUDBURY — Thirty-six staff
working in employment and
newcomer services at YMCA
of Sudbury, Ont., have chosen
to become members of the On-
tario Public Service Employees
Union (OPSEU).
"One of the many benefits
they'll enjoy with OPSEU mem-
bership is increased job security
— something they badly need
right now so they can better plan
for the future," said OPSEU re-
gional vice-president Jeff Arbus.
"But it's also good news for the
Y and their clients. When work-
ing conditions are improved,
staff retention is increased – and
so is their experience and knowl-
edge. The Y's reputation as a
prominent community partner
will be enhanced, while clients
will benefit even more from the
help they receive."
LABOUR BRIEFS
2
Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2016
FORMERLY CLV REPORTS
Serving labour relations professionals
since 1956
www.labour-reporter.com
Published weekly by omson Reuters
Canada Ltd.
Subscription rate: $595 per year
Customer Service
Tel: (416) 609-3800 (Toronto)
(800) 387-5164 (outside Toronto)
Fax: (416) 298-5106
Email: carswell.customerrelations@
thomsonreuters.com
Website: www.carswell.com
Director, Carswell Media
Karen Lorimer
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Todd Humber
Editor/Supervisor
Sarah Dobson | (416) 649-7896
sarah.dobson@thomsonreuters.com
Contributing Editors
Mallory Hendry
Jeff rey R. Smith
Marketing Co-ordinator
Keith Fulford | (416) 649-9585
keith.fulford@thomsonreuters.com
© 2016 Carswell, a division of omson
Reuters Canada Ltd. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the
written permission of the publisher.
e publisher is not engaged in rendering
legal, accounting or other professional
advice. If legal or other expert assistance is
required, the services of a competent
professional should be sought. e analysis
contained herein represents the opinion of
the authors and should in no way be
construed as being either offi cial or
unoffi cial policy of any governmental body.
ISSN 0045-5113
Publications Registration 2089
Canadian Labour Reporter is part of the
Canadian HR Reporter group of
publications. Visit www.hrreporter.com
for more information.
Labour Reporter
Canadian
www.labourreporter.com
Photo:
Brian
Snyder
(Reuters)
LABOUR LENS
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets striking union workers from local 54
outside the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City on July 6.
