Postal worker negotiations in Canada have reached a new level. The Countdown step has begun to a possible strike. Here is the timeline as of today:

Before any Strike (or lockout) can happen in Canada between the Postal Union and Canada Post, steps must be followed as per the Canada Labor Code:

1)     What is known as the “Countdown” does not even begin until either side decides negotiations (which have no time limit) are going nowhere. That side would give a “Notice of Dispute” to Minister of Labor.
2)     The Minister then has 15 days to appoint a conciliator to assist in reaching an agreement.
(Done and completed as of August 13th)
3)     The Conciliator then has 60 days (2 months) to reach an agreement unless each side sees movement and they can agree together to extend this process as long as they want. (Earliest this can happen is October 12th)
4)     After the Conciliation process is completed without an agreement, either side must wait 21 days until they either strike (Union side) or have a lockout (Management side). This 21 day cooling off period ends November 2nd (unless #3 is extended)

The earliest the Union could strike (or management could lock out workers) is November 3rd