Where do parties stand on workers' rights? Hamilton labour leaders want answers this federal election

For Burlington, Ont., letter carrier Tracey Langille, the right to strike will be on her mind when she goes to vote in the federal election.

Langille is among about 55,000 striking Canada Post workers who returned to the job in December after the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered an end to their roughly one-month strike. She's also president of Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local 548, which represents about 1,600 members at 16 workplaces in the Hamilton area.

Whenever the government intervenes in a strike, issues are left unsettled, Langille said at the time, calling the board's decision an "attack on labour."

Canada Post workers were among others ordered to return to work while exercising their right to strike last year. In August, the federal labour board sent back striking rail workers, and in October, the federal labour minister said striking port workers in Quebec and British Columbia would have to return to their jobs. 

CUPW is challenging the constitutionality of the back-to-work order and took part in mediated negotiations with Canada Post in March. As well, a federal commission examining Canada Post may recommend changes, including to its collective agreement with workers. It is expected to report to the labour minister by May 15. 

Langille said negotiations have not resolved the outstanding issues, and worries the commission process will favour what the employer wants over the employees. 

In an April 3 statement on its website, Canada Post warned there could be a labour disruption as early as May 22.

"This is not the message we hoped to be sharing at this time," it said. 

Langille said she and her co-workers have been "on pins and needles" waiting to find out what happens next.

For them, Langille said, the future of Canada Post and other public institutions is an election issue.

Canadians "deserve accessible and affordable public services," she said.

CUPW is running a campaign called Hands Off My Post Office, which warns against privatizing the postal service — something the union accuses Canada Post of working toward. For its part, the employer says it's "committed to securing the future of the postal service by modernizing our operations and enhancing service." 

The CUPW campaign asks federal candidates to pledge their support. The union is not endorsing a party, but sent members an election "report card" grading major parties on a rubric, including their commitment to the right to strike and expanding postal services.

"Public service jobs are decent jobs, and that's something across the country that we have to fight for," said Marc LaPointe, a letter carrier in Guelph, Ont. "Decent jobs across this country are becoming harder and harder to come by."