Canadians are guaranteed there will be no labour disruptions at Canada Post for the next six months, at least.
The Minister of Labour has given Arbitrator Elizabeth MacPherson a six-month extension to deliver two new collective agreements between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
The two parties have been in arbitration since January, and MacPherson's mandate was set to expire on December 31.
The labour dispute last fall threatened the timely delivery of Christmas packages across the country. Rotating strikes began in October and lasted until postal carriers were ordered back to work in late November.
The union filed a constitutional challenge of the back to work legislation.
CUPW said the issues at stake were workplace safety, equity between rural and urban carriers, and the creation of full-time jobs.
Their members have been without a contract since January 31, 2018.