The weekend brought no movement on the mail front as negotiations remain stalled between Canada Post and its locked-out workers.

Both sides had said they were scheduled to meet, but face-to-face talks failed to take place even as the dispute heads into a week where back-to-work legislation is likely to be tabled in Parliament.

Denis Lemelin, national president of the 48,000-member Canadian Union of Postal Workers, said he's bracing for an order from Ottawa to get back on the job.

'It's like the real negotiation between Canada Post and the union is finished.'—Union president Denis Lemelin

"We expect the government will put forward something," he said. "It's like the real negotiation between Canada Post and the union is finished."

Lemelin said the fact the government has indicated it might step in and "rescue" the post office in the labour dispute suggests Canada Post has been waiting for Ottawa to intervene.

Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has said she intends to introduce legislation this week after all urban postal operations were suspended last Wednesday, when Canada Post locked out employees who had been staging rotating strikes since June 3.

"We will fight it, that's clear," said Lemelin, adding that the union has been in talks with the opposition parties, looking for support.

"For us, the back-to-work legislation won't be any good for the future of the post office."

Still time for a deal: Canada Post

Meanwhile, Canada Post said it is still eager to work out a negotiated settlement with the union.

"We've said all along we are committed to negotiating," spokesman Jon Hamilton said. "We have come to the table with a sense of urgency that hasn't been met."

The Crown corporation said Sunday that there was still time to reach a deal, even with Ottawa stepping in, if the union would look more closely at the existing deal on the table.

"The union strike activity had us in a death-spiral of uncertainty" Hamilton said. "We took action to try and move things forward, kickstart the process. Unfortunately we're not seeing that in return from the union."

Opposition Leader Jack Layton says he doesn't favour forcing employees back to work when 'it's the government that has shut the doors of their workplace.' Ben Nelms/Reuters

The Crown corporation has said the main sticking point in the dispute is the union's demand for staffing levels beyond the capability of Canada Post, adding that wages were not the key disagreement. The union has been emphasizing working conditions and safety issues, as well as decrying the corporation's push to have new employees receive substantially inferior wages and pensions. CUPW also says Canada Post turned a profit in each of the last 16 years.

NDP Leader Jack Layton has already weighed in on the labour dispute and the potential legislation the House of Commons might have to deal with next week.

"When it comes to the legislation itself, we'll read it. We don't support the notion of forcing workers back to work, especially when it's the government that has shut the doors of their workplace," he said Sunday at the party's convention in Vancouver.

"What I believe the prime minister should do is open the doors to Canada Post. I don't think it's acceptable that a prime minister is allowing a Crown corporation that he controls to shut the doors of our postal service."

Layton added that a negotiated settlement between the two parties would be the best way to resolve the dispute.

The union and Canada Post are scheduled to talk Monday.