The prime minister is being asked to get directly involved in the ongoing labour dispute at Canada Post.

A group of prominent Canadian women say Justin Trudeau should direct the Crown Corporation – to live up its legal obligations on pay equity.

The difference in paycheques for rural mail carriers and urban letter carriers is an issue that’s been front-and-center at contract talks between Canada Post and its biggest union.

Negotiations are continuing and have been extended twice since the weekend – when a deadline expired on a 72-hour job action notice – from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

An open letter sent to the prime minister today is calling on Trudeau to keep his promise – to support equal pay for work of equal value.

The letter is signed by 200 notable women – primarily from English-speaking Canada – including filmmaker and actress Sarah Polley, author Naomi Klein and social activists Maude Barlow and Judy Rebick.