Postal Talks Break Down As Back-To-Work Vote Looms

The NDP says it will hold up the bill as much as possible to give the union and Canada Post time to hammer out a deal.

The House of Commons is set to debate today whether to send 48,000 locked-out Canada Post employees back to work with a contentious bill that could be the first real challenge for this Parliament. Talks between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers hit a standstill last night, with the Crown corporation saying it was unable to meet the union's demands because it felt they would have jeopardized its financial footing. The deadlock leaves Labour Minister Lisa Raitt's back-to-work bill the most likely means of ending the strike/lockout, but time is working against the government, too. The House is scheduled to rise for its summer break after today, but if debate hasn't finished on the bill by then – the NDP promises to delay its passage as much as possible – Parliament might have to stick around through the weekend to reach a resolution.

Related Links:

Labour Pains

Please, Mr. Postman