OTTAWA - The union executive for urban workers at Canada Post said it would meet with its bargaining committee on the weekend to plan their next move as there was a pause in talks aimed at averting a strike.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers issued a statement that said there was little progress in negotiations Friday on issues such as staffing, workload and safety.

"There is no indication that CPC (Canada Post Corp.) is prepared to seriously discuss the real problems facing postal workers," the CUPW statement said. "For CPC management these negotiations are mainly about eliminating sick leave and imposing less pay and benefits on workers."

CUPW has not issued the 72-hour notice it must give management before it can take any job action, but its statement warned that could soon change.

"Given the refusal of CPC management to address our demands, all members should be prepared to participate in strike action in the very near future," the statement said.

Union officials intended to meet to evaluate the situation and decide what would happen next. It wasn't clear at what point during the weekend that would happen.

Canada Post has said it believes there is enough time to negotiate a "fair and reasonable" settlement with its urban postal workers.

Union president Denis Lemelin said earlier Friday that the union's bargaining team still hasn't received the company's reasons for saying CUPW's demands would increase labour costs by $1.4 billion.

"We're still trying to get an answer," Lemelin said from Ottawa.

Canada Post rejected the union's latest contract proposal on Tuesday, but then made a counter-proposal, noting a continued decline in mail volumes and a $3-billion pension solvency deficit.

"Canada Post has put forward an offer giving employees better wages and no change to their existing generous pension and job security," spokesman Jon Hamilton said in an email. "We're committed to getting a deal but are still waiting to hear from the union on our latest offer."

The CUPW represents about 50,000 urban postal workers and negotiations to reach a new collective agreement began last fall.