The month-long conflict in Canada threatens to disrupt the holiday shopping rush. <\/p>\n
PM Justin Trudeau has said his government is willing to order an end to rotating strikes by Canadian mail workers as retailers fear the dispute will disrupt the holiday shopping rush that begins after Thanksgiving in the US.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUWP) rejected Canada Post\u2019s \u201clast ditch\u201d offer Monday which had called for a temporary return to work during the busy holiday season. The Retail Council of Canada, meanwhile, has been pressuring Trudeau to end the strike with the number of packages and letters to be sent expected to double.<\/p>\n
The CUWP subsequently announced rotating strikes across the country beginning October 22 after failing to reach an agreement over compensation pay with Canada Post following year-long negotiations. Each strike is meant to last only 24 hours per city, with different strike locations on rotation.<\/p>\n
Yet the ongoing action has caused a month-long backlog of undelivered packages and mail.<\/p>\n
The Trudeau government had indicated Monday it was willing to give Canada Post more time to settle a labor dispute with its employees despite the pressure from business, yet within twenty-four hours, his government would take a stronger stance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe strongly encourage both sides to reach a deal and are prepared to table legislation if we do not see a resolution over the next few days, a step we do not take lightly,\u201d said Labor Minister Patty Hajdu.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n