By The Canadian Press

Canada Post Issues Lockout Notice

Jul 5, 2016 | 5:06 AM

KAMLOOPS — If you have some items to mail, they may not arrive on time. Canada Post said it has issued a 72-hour lockout notice to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), raising the spectre of a work stoppage by Friday.
    The announcement came hours after Canada Post said its latest offer presented on June 25 was fair and reasonable and that it still hoped to negotiate a deal with the union.
    But in a statement early Tuesday, Canada Post said it plans to suspend the collective agreement as of Friday. It blamed prolonged negotiations, the union’s strike mandate and the financial cost of a rapid decline in mail volume.
    Canada Post said the 72-hour notice does not necessarily mean it will shut down on Friday.
    Rather, it said, the measure would allow it “take measures that are necessary to respond to the changing business reality.”
    In its response, CUPW said the corporation is using the lockout notice to drive 50,000 workers “out onto the streets pay in an effort to impose steep concessions on them.”   Local Canadian Union of Postal Workers officials are expected to comment on the lockout notice later today. 

    (The Canadian Press)<