Just as the holidays loom, Canada Post and the union that represents thousands of its mail carriers have announced an agreement in principle on new contracts.

In a statement, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said the sides had settled on the main points of a deal covering its urban carriers and its rural and suburban unit. The employer agreed to match the union’s decision to suspend any lockout action as the final contract was finalized, it said.

The deal in principle will pause months of rotating strikes.

CUPW added members will later vote on the remaining work that is now being ironed out.

Canada Post confirmed the parties had a agreed to a tentative deal.

Strike action could resume in the weeks leading up to Christmas if the two sides cannot agree on that wording.

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