Mediator named to end Canadian postal strike

Canada's Treasury Board president, Don Johnston, told the House of Commons that his department has applied for appointment of a mediator to end Canada's 16 -day-old postal strike. The National Executive Board of the 23,000-member Canadian Union of Postal Workers arranged a meeting to decide how to respond.

The mediator, to be appointed by the Public Service Staff Relations Board, has no binding power but will try to help bring the two sides to a settlement. No negotiations have taken place since the strike began.

The postal workers' main point of contention is a demand for 17 weeks of paid maternity leave for union members, two more weeks than w omen in public service now receive.