Unifor asks feds to reject DHL's request for strike intervention
Unifor sent a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and cabinet ministers this week decrying a request from package company DHL to intervene in a strike.
That request was made by DHL in a letter last week that was shared on the union's website.
The letter said the change that takes effect on June 20 to federal labour law banning replacement workers during strikes threatens to 'severely undermine' DHL's operational capabilities.
It said the cessation of its operations would lead to the loss of around 2,800 jobs and asks that the government intervene to allow DHL Express to continue operating while it negotiates with the union.
The letter said the company saw 'similar interventions' during the ongoing strike at Canada Post and that it thinks such action is warranted in its case given that it provides 'essential logistics services to Canadians.'
Story continues below advertisement
4:10
CUPW workers to vote on Canada Post's latest offer
Unifor national president Lana Payne argued in the letter to Carney that DHL locked out its workers and forced members to respond with strike action.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
She said the company is asking for a 'free pass' to avoid having to comply with anti-scab legislation which sets a 'dangerous precedent.'
She said the use of 'scabs' leads to longer disputes, contributes to higher conflict at picket lines, jeopardizes workplace safety and 'removes the employer incentive to negotiate and settle fair contracts.'
With the two sides at an impasse, DHL Express Canada has said it will shut down operations across the country.
DHL said it will halt parcel deliveries starting June 20, the day federal legislation banning replacement workers takes full effect.
The upcoming shutdown adds to the labour turmoil in the parcel market, as Canada Post remains at loggerheads with 55,000 workers amid strained negotiations and an overtime ban imposed by the union last month.
Story continues below advertisement
Unifor represents over 2,000 DHL truck drivers, couriers and warehouse and call centre employees across Canada.
— With files from Christopher Reynolds
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
39 minutes ago
- CTV News
Liberals, Conservatives pass major projects legislation in House of Commons
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, June 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle Conservative members of Parliament voted with the minority Liberal government to pass its marquee major projects legislation Friday evening, setting it up to become law before Canada Day. The legislation, also known as the one Canadian economy act, would allow the government to green-light a list of projects that have been deemed to be in the national interest, fast-tracking their approvals. The Liberals have called it the core of the government's domestic economic response to U.S. tariffs. 'This is what makes us different from the United States, this is what makes us more independent from the United States, this is what's going to move us forward,' Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a press conference after the vote, adding the legislation needed to pass quickly 'because we are in a crisis.' 'And if you don't think we're in a crisis, go to Sault Ste. Marie, go to Hamilton, go to Windsor.' After the second of two votes in the House of Commons on Friday, Carney crossed the floor to shake hands with Opposition House leader Andrew Scheer and Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman. Two votes were held instead of one after the House Speaker ruled that the legislation had two distinct parts without a clear common element. That allowed the Bloc Quebecois and NDP members to vote in favour of the first part of the bill -- which looks to tackle internal trade barriers -- and against the more controversial second part dealing with major projects. The major projects bill grants the government sweeping powers to quickly approve projects that are deemed to be in the national interest. Provincial and territorial premiers have given Carney lists of projects they want to see approved, but no national list of projects has been made public so far. 'We all agree that more fulsome conversations are needed to select the nation-building projects and to determine the conditions that they must fulfil. In other words, the real work begins now,' Carney said. The legislation has drawn criticism from Indigenous leaders and environmental groups who say it gives too much power to the federal cabinet to bypass existing laws. The legislation was introduced on June 6 and was pushed through the House after about eight hours of committee study on Tuesday and Wednesday. The House transport committee did amend the bill to, among other things, remove the Indian Act from a list of laws the government can sidestep when determining whether a project should move forward. First Nations leaders have warned the bill could violate their constitutionally protected rights and may lead to legal challenges. Carney emphasized the need to respect the constitutional rights of Indigenous Peoples in his press conference on Friday. 'The major projects office will have an Indigenous advisory council whose core function will be to honour Section 35 rights in the implementation of this bill,' he said. He promised to hold full-day summits with First Nations, Inuit and Metis rights-holders and leaders in the coming weeks, alongside Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty and Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty. 'Consultation, co-operation, engagement and participation are at the heart of this bill,' he said. The bill is now headed to the Senate, which is scheduled to sit until June 27. By Sarah Ritchie. With files from Kyle Duggan and Alessia Passafiume.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
House of Commons passes Liberals' major projects bill
Liberal and Conservative members of Parliament voted to pass the government's major projects legislation this evening. After the second of two votes, Prime Minister Mark Carney crossed the floor to shake hands with Opposition House leader Andrew Scheer and Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman. Two votes were held instead of one after the House Speaker ruled that the legislation had two distinct parts without a clear common element. That allowed the Bloc Québécois and NDP members to vote in favour of the first part of the bill — which looks to tackle internal trade barriers — and against the more controversial second part dealing with major projects. The major projects bill grants the government sweeping powers to quickly approve projects that are deemed to be in the national interest. The bill is now headed to the Senate, which is scheduled to sit until June 27.
Montreal Gazette
an hour ago
- Montreal Gazette
DHL Express suspends deliveries nationwide amid strike, hitting Quebec operations
By DHL Express has halted all parcel deliveries to and from Canada as of Friday, with union-led picket lines and paused shipments affecting operations across the country, including in Quebec. The company says the suspension is tied to stalled contract talks with Unifor, which represents more than 2,100 DHL Express workers nationally, including drivers and warehouse staff at DHL's Lachine facility in Montreal. Shipments were paused earlier this week and there is no timeline for service to resume. DHL says new federal legislation banning replacement workers prevents it from using contingency measures to maintain operations during the strike. The company says it remains committed to reaching a deal that offers fair compensation while ensuring the long-term sustainability of its business in Canada. Unifor, meanwhile, accuses the company of previously bringing in 'scab workers' and locking out employees who were demanding better pay, access to washrooms and protections against driver fatigue. 'The very things the Safe Rates campaign is fighting for — including fair wages, improved workplace protections, access to washrooms and tackling fatigue — are some of the same improvements we've been demanding for our members, and which DHL has locked us out for,' said Unifor's national president, Lana Payne. Solidarity rallies are taking place this week at picket lines across the country, including in Lachine, as the union calls for stronger labour protections and fair pay in the transport sector. Other divisions of the company — including DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Supply Chain — remain operational. The suspension applies only to DHL Express deliveries.
