Photo: The Canadian Press

A union spokeswoman says members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have ratified the tentative agreement reached last summer with Canada Post.

Lise-Lyne Gelineau, president of the union's Montreal section, tells The Canadian Press rural and suburban mail carriers voted 55 per cent in favour of the new contract, while urban postal workers voted 63 per cent in favour.

The agreement represents a 2.5 per cent salary increase for urban carriers over two years, while rural and suburban employees are to receive three per cent over the same period.

Negotiations between Canada Post and its unionized employees lasted months and resulted in threats of lockouts and strikes that never materialized.

The union represents roughly 54,000 postal employees across the country.