OTTAWA — Canada Post and its counter staff, technical support and other support employees, who have been on strike since Nov. 17, have reached a tentative agreement.

The tentative deal includes a 2.5 per cent salary increase over the first two years and a 2.75 per cent increase over the third and fourth years of the contract.

The key issue in the nearly four-week strike was a proposed rollback in sick-leave provisions.

Under the new deal workers would be allowed to trade in accumulated sick leave for money and unused days will be paid out each year.

Employees would also get seven personal days to be used at their discretion, whereas the union had been pushing for 10 days.

The contract is subject to ratification by the 2,140 members of the union, which is expected to be completed by Dec. 16.