CBJ — An arbitrator has released a ruling in a long-standing pay equity dispute at Canada Post that gives rural carriers a 25% pay increase.

A spokesman for the Crown agency says a review of the ruling indicates rural and suburban postal workers could also get increases in other benefits.

Arbitrator Maureen Flynn issued the ruling to Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on their own by an August 30 deadline.

The union had argued that Canada Post’s 8,000 rural carriers — most of whom are women — were being paid substantially less than their majority-male urban co-workers.

The ruling comes as CUPW and the post office continue to negotiate new contracts under a midnight September 25 deadline for a strike or lockout.

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