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“That is in my view聽鈥� highly disrespectful of Canadians who are suffering from this work stoppage,” said MacKinnon, pointing to small businesses and people living in remote, rural communities as those most affected. “These parties have to knuckle down and get the work done. As I鈥檝e explained before, these are negotiations that have to be concluded between the parties. They rest on fundamental issues that separate these two parties.鈥�

In a written statement, Canada Post said it was still hoping to reach a negotiated settlement with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, who have been walking the picket line since Nov. 15.

“We hope to return to the table soon so we can reignite the discussions and, together with the support of mediators, work toward final agreements,” Canada Post said. “We understand the impact CUPW鈥檚 national strike is having on our employees and so many Canadians. Canada Post remains committed to negotiating new collective agreements that will provide our employees and customers with the certainty they are looking for.

While MacKinnon urged the two sides to get back to the negotiating table, labour experts say that the longer the dispute goes on, the more likely it becomes that the federal government will intervene.

That could come in the form of either back-to-work legislation or by invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code and聽asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order binding arbitration.

“The closer we get to the holiday season, the greater the likelihood they鈥檒l intervene,” said Larry Savage, a labour studies professor at Brock University.

MacKinnon’s decision to invoke Section 107 to end a lockout of rail workers earlier this year means his pleas for a negotiated settlement of the Canada Post strike should be taken with a grain of salt, Savage said.

“I think the minister鈥檚 been laying the groundwork to use section 107, while the whole time, saying he isn鈥檛,” said Savage. “Why would anyone believe him?鈥�

The government is treading a fine political line between alienating organized labour or upsetting businesses and consumers heading into the holiday season as it deals with the strike, said Savage.聽

“The government鈥檚 caught between a rock and a hard place,” said Savage. “If they intervene, they鈥檒l be accused of interfering with workers鈥� charter rights. If they wait much longer, their popularity will sink even lower, which is the last thing they need heading into an election year.鈥�

That raw political calculus is even more vital than it otherwise would be because the minority federal Liberals are being propped up by the NDP, Savage said.

While MacKinnon is publicly urging the two sides to work out a deal at the negotiating table, he’s also laying the groundwork for either back-to-work legislation or invoking Section 107, said Stephanie Ross, a labour studies professor at McMaster University.

“I get the sense that the minister is trying to do what he can to get a deal at the table, but also thinking about the case they鈥檇 have to make to the court,鈥� said Ross.

The length of time the strike has gone on聽鈥� as well as calling the two sides into a closed-door meeting earlier this week聽鈥� both provide legal ammunition in the event the government intervenes, said Ross.

鈥淭hey really have to show enough time has passed that they鈥檝e made every effort聽鈥� that there鈥檚 a true impasse,鈥� Ross said.

If there’s no deal within the next week or so, said Ross, the government will likely intervene, even if it doesn’t really want to.

“I think the pressure is mounting in terms of the Christmas holidays,” said Ross.聽 鈥淚t wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if we saw the minister invoke section 107 within the next week and a half.鈥�