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On day 29 of a strike between Canada Post and its employees, Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon is asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to assess the situation and order employees back to work if they think a deal will not be reached.

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The 55,000 employees who are part of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) want better wages, safe working conditions, the right to retire with dignity, and the expansion of services at the public post office, according to a news release from the union. The strike began on Nov. 15, after the union said it made little progress after a year of bargaining.

On Friday, MacKinnon released a statement in a post on X.

“I have asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to assess the likelihood of the parties reaching negotiated agreements by the end of 2024 under the current circumstances, and if the CIRB considers this unlikely, to order the Canada Post Corporation and all employees represented by CUPW to resume and continue their operations and duties, and to extend the terms of the existing agreements until May 22, 2025,” he said.

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MacKinnon also said that government’s “preferred means of resolving disagreements between employers and workers” is collective bargaining, but the conflict between CUPW and Canada Post “has reached a critical point.”

“The service disruptions resulting from this conflict are having a significant impact on Canadians, small businesses, charities, seniors, Indigenous Peoples as well as more remote territories and communities,” he said.

While turning to the CIRB offers a “temporary solution,” MacKinnon said the government’s priority is for the two groups to come to a resolution.

He said he would appoint an Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC) “to examine the issues” of the dispute and ask for a list of recommendations by May 15, 2025.

After MacKinnon’s announcement, the union released a statement on Friday.

“The Union denounces in the strongest terms this assault on our constitutionally protected right to collectively bargain and to strike,” per the statement. “This order continues a deeply troubling pattern in which the government uses its arbitrary powers to let employers off the hook, drag their feet, and refuse to bargain in good faith with workers and their unions.”

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The union also said that the situation was “rapidly developing” and they have not had time to review all of the details.

“The Union is currently reviewing the order and considering all of its options moving forward,” CUPW said.

Canada Post said it declined the union’s latest offer because it would “add billions of dollars in unsustainable fixed costs,” in a news release on Dec. 11.

Meanwhile, the union’s national president urged workers to stay strong.

“The pressure of public opinion, financial strain, and relentless pushback can make even the most steadfast among us question this fight. But this is the time to pause and remember why this strike matters. This isn’t just about pay or benefits—it’s about fairness, dignity, and the recognition that the work you do is important to communities across the country,” said Jan Simpson in a statement on Thursday.

“Every letter, package, and cheque you handle plays a crucial role in keeping communities connected and lives running smoothly. Yet, the significance of this work is often overlooked amid the routines and demands of daily life.”

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