Canada Post workers have abruptly walked off the job and set up picket lines across the country, CUPW says.
“In response to the government’s attack on our postal service and workers, effective immediately, all CUPW members at Canada Post are on a nationwide strike,” the union wrote in a statement.
This comes hours after the federal government gave Canada Post the green light to significantly pull back on mail delivery service over the span of a few years. CUPW Prince George president Nicole Chouinard says they’re appalled by the development, and workers are sad and frustrated with how they’ve been treated.
“This is a David-and-Goliath situation, and we have felt defeated for a long time,” Chouinard said.
“Every time we turn around, we are taking another hit.”
Chouinard alleges the Crown corporation will not negotiate in good faith because it knows the federal government will step in sooner or later.
She says that because the union has maintained the right to strike since at least May, this current action is legal.
‘Deeply unfair’ to small businesses, says CFIB
The striking postal workers are not getting any sympathy from the president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
Dan Kelly says this is an incredibly challenging situation for small businesses that were not at all expecting another strike, let alone today.
“This is so deeply unfair, especially as we move toward the busy retail sales season when shipping becomes a critical issue as well,” Kelly said.
He says one of the first impacts is that money gets frozen in the mail, because many enterprises do business using paper invoices or cheques.
“If you’re moving $10,000 or $20,000, it’s very common to send money in the mail,” he said.
“Small firms also use it to send goods, including retail packages, especially in the holiday lead-up.”
He says the proposed changes to Canada Post are inevitable.
“We can not turn back. We have been doing that for 10 years, just kicking the can forward. The union may want the clocks to be turned back to 1970, when people were using the mail for absolutely everything, but that’s not our reality.”
Strike is bad news after years of supply chain disruptions, says Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Pascal Chan, vice-president of strategic policy and supply chains for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, says another strike is not welcome, after years of repeated supply chain disruptions.
“Canadians are counting on Canada Post to deliver,” Chan said.
“The Canadian Chamber calls for a return to the bargaining table and a commitment to good-faith negotiation focused on how to best support consumers and businesses.”
Canada Post says deliveries of socio-economic cheques, live animals will continue
Canada Post says CUPW has agreed to continue delivering socio-economic cheques during any labour disruption. This applies to payments from “eligible and participating government organizations,” it says.
“The agreement ensures government financial assistance delivered by mail will reach seniors and other Canadians who rely on it,” it said.
As well, an exception is being made for some live-animal deliveries.
“A process is in place to ensure existing live animal shipments continue during a labour disruption; however, no new shipments will be accepted,” Canada Post said.
With files from The Canadian Press.