Kamloops postal workers hopeful as negotiations continue

Jul 11, 2016 | 8:59 AM

KAMLOOPS — Workers are busy and hopeful today as negotiations continue between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. 

Canada Post decided to withdraw its lock out threat yesterday, July 10, after both sides returned to the bargaining table. 

President of CUPW Local 758, Patricia Nauss said it was not clear how much closer the union and Crown corporation were to reaching an agreement. 

“All we do know is that they’re back at the table,” Nauss said. “The mail volumes are doing well. For today we have a lot of mail in Kamloops, well, not tons, but we’re doing really well. We don’t want to be locked out, we want to keep working.” 

Nauss said there was some concern that the lengthy talks could hurt mail volumes. 

She said the two sides were continuing to discuss employee pensions, pay equity, working conditions, and expansion of parcel delivery on weekends.

“We really want to expand our services and we understand that we have to change and expand,” Nauss said. 

With both sides still talking, Nauss said there was a renewed sense of hope for the workers. 

“We’re feeling a little more hopeful, we’re pretty relieved that everybody’s back at the table negotiating,” Nauss said. “A lock out and job stoppage is really hard on everybody. It’s hard on the public, but it’s also hard on the workers.”