The union representing Canada Post employees on strike is set to meet Wednesday with the federal minister it holds responsible for the ongoing labour dispute and the breakdown in contract talks.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) began a nationwide strike nearly two weeks ago after Government Transformation Minister Joël Lightbound — who oversees Canada Post — unveiled a plan to restructure the Crown corporation. The proposed changes include reduced mail delivery, the closure of some post offices, and the gradual elimination of door-to-door service.

Lightbound had originally planned to meet with CUPW leaders the day before his announcement, but that meeting was postponed.

In a statement Tuesday, CUPW national vice-president Rona Eckert said Wednesday’s meeting will address both Lightbound’s proposed reforms — which the union intends to demand he “publicly rescind” — and the corporation’s latest contract proposals.

“This will be our first in person meeting with the minister in charge of Canada Post,” Eckert said. “It is far too late in the process for this to happen, but that has been the minister’s call. Now that we are all on the street he has asked to talk to us.

“While we want the meeting with the minister, there’s no secret about our position: the government’s decision to announce its plans to gut the public post office and slash thousands of good jobs is the wrong approach and will make everything worse for Canadians, the public service, and bargaining.”

A spokesperson for Lightbound said the government hopes Canada Post can “modernize and transform so it can keep serving Canadians for years to come,” and urged both sides to “find a path forward at the bargaining table.”

“Canada Post is part of the fabric of our country — but it’s facing an existential crisis,” spokesperson Laurent de Casanove said in an email. “Losing $10 million every day isn’t sustainable, and Canadians can’t keep paying that price.”