Canada Post reaches tentative deal with workers

Labour peace may finally be in sight at the post office.

Canada Post and its largest group of unionized workers have reached a tentative agreement in a bitter dispute that has dragged on for more than a year.

The post office and Canadian Union of Postal Workers are saying little about the agreement.

The Harper government intervened in the dispute after Canada Post responded to rotating strikes by locking out its employees.

The back-to-work legislation the government brought in forced workers to accept wages that amounted to less than Canada Post's last offer.

Other issues were referred to arbitration on a winner-take-all basis where the arbitrator would choose between management and union proposals.

The union twice objected to the government's choice of an arbitrator and took the battle to the courts.

Canada Post say the two sides were able to iron out their differences without arbitration.

The union is now organizing ratification votes for the deal.