According to a recent poll, Canadians are in favor of government intervention in labor disputes at ports and Canada Post.
Leger, a polling firm, found that 63 percent of respondents support the Liberal government’s decision to involve the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order a resumption of port operations and move negotiations into binding arbitration. Nineteen percent opposed this move, while 19 percent were unsure.
Additionally, 57 percent of respondents said they would approve of the government taking similar action in the ongoing Canada Post strike. Twenty-one percent were against it, and 22 percent were undecided.
Currently, around 55,000 employees represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are on strike, leading to the shutdown of operations and halting of deliveries. The federal government has appointed a top mediator to aid in reaching a new agreement.
Labor Minister Steve MacKinnon has ruled out early intervention in the Canada Post strike but did intervene earlier in the week to resolve the labor dispute at Canada’s ports, where workers in B.C. and Montreal were locked out, causing disruptions in cargo container movements.
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The poll conducted by Leger surveyed 1,529 people from Nov. 15 to 17. As online polls are not considered truly random samples, the poll does not provide a margin of error.
When it comes to port operations, 51 percent of respondents believe they should be classified as essential services and not allowed to halt, while 32 percent think port workers should be permitted to strike for better working conditions.
The unions representing the Montreal and B.C. port workers have indicated their intention to challenge the minister’s intervention in court.
Furthermore, Canadians are more aware of the Canada Post strike than the port lockout, with 86 percent acknowledging the potential postal worker strike compared to 67 percent who were familiar with the port dispute.
Sixty-one percent of those polled expressed concerns about possible mail service disruptions due to the postal strike, and 57 percent were worried about delays during the holiday season.
Approximately 56 percent of respondents support the demands made by Canada Post workers, while 29 percent are opposed. The union is seeking a cumulative wage increase of 24 percent over four years, while Canada Post has proposed an 11.5 percent raise. Other issues include job security, benefits, and weekend contract work for parcel delivery.
