Canada Post said talks to end an almost two-week strike by its workers represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have reached a standstill.
"The parties have been working with the assistance of a special mediator since November 18, but progress has been limited to minor items," said the Crown Corporation Tuesday night. "Despite the current situation, we remain committed to the bargaining process."
Holding up progress on the more substantive issues, it said, are measures to ensure Canada Post's viability.
"Throughout these negotiations, Canada Post has put forward detailed proposals to bring more flexibility to its outdated, mail-based delivery model," continued the postal carrier. "These changes are necessary to better compete in the parcel business, better serve Canadians, and drive much-needed revenue growth."
Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon also announced on Wednesday that mediation in the dispute has been suspended.
"After several intensive days of negotiation, his assessment is that parties remain too far apart on critical issues for mediation to be successful at this time," MacKinnon posted on X. "This pause in mediation activities will hopefully permit the parties to reassess their positions and return to the bargaining table with renewed resolve."
Recently, Canada Post reported it lost $315-million before tax in the third quarter of this year. Since 2018, it's lost more than $3-billion in revenue.
Canada Post accuses the union of not responding over the past several days, and "CUPW has just informed us, through the special mediator, that it will not be responding at all."
Over at the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, union officials accused Canada Post of misrepresentation.
"Canada Post informed the public and CUPW members, through the media, that CUPW negotiators had spent Saturday at the bargaining table talking about cleaners working inside Canada Post facilities. This is an outright misrepresentation," said a post on the union's website.
It says negotiators instead worked on a proposal presented Friday night on weekend delivery. The proposal, it said, would see the postal carrier hire part-time employees for Saturday-only delivery, which is not enough hours to provide those employees with a living.
"Canada Post appears to be trying to sway public opinion and turn Canadians against postal workers," continued the post. "This tactic of distraction not only mischaracterizes the nature of negotiations but undermines the hard work and dedication shown by postal employees."
CUPW also accused Canada Post of not responding to demands from its urban bargaining group, which was presented a month ago.
Canada Post workers have been off the job since November 15.