Canada Post: Union cancels news conference, mediator appointed 

The union representing Canada Post workers abruptly cancelled a news conference on Thursday morning, promising that more information would be available “shortly” as a strike deadline looms.

On Wednesday, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) indicated it would issue a 72-hour strike notice on Thursday if there was no change in the status of negotiations with Canada Post. That would have meant mail service would cease on Sunday.

READ MORE: Canada Post union tells members to ‘get ready’ as strike mandate expires

But at the last minute, reporters were told the 10 a.m. news conference had been called off indefinitely. There was no explanation provided, but a hint was given by Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk around noon.

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“Last night I proposed to Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers that I appoint a special mediator to assist them in their negotiations. I will do so expeditiously,” Mihychuk said in a release.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Last night I proposed to Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers that I appoint a special mediator to assist them in their negotiations. I will do so expeditiously," Mihychuk said in a release.

“I expect both parties to work with this special mediator to come to a resolution and avoid a work stoppage. I continue to closely monitor the situation.”

Neither Canada Post nor the union have publicly commented on the minister’s statement. Mihychuk has the authority to appoint a mediator to help break the impasse without the approval of either side, however.

The union’s hand has been forced by the looming expiration of a 60-day strike mandate. A 72-hour strike notice must be issued before midnight tonight if the union wants to move ahead with a legal work stoppage.

Canada Post has refused to agree to extend the mandate indefinitely without the union going back to the workers for approval, and CUPW president Mike Palecek has said that seeking a fresh 60-day mandate via a membership vote would be too time-consuming and expensive.

READ MORE: What are the Canada Post talks about anyway?

There have been repeated high-level meetings over the last several days between the two sides, including meetings involving the union president, Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra and Mihychuk. As of Wednesday, there seemed to be little movement.

If the strike does go ahead, it will be the fifth postal service disruption in Canada since the late 1980s.