The mail came to a halt on Thursday evening as the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) walked off the job in response to the federal government’s proposed changes to Canada Post.
The latest action comes after a year of ongoing negotiations between the union and the Crown corporation, which have failed to reach an agreement.
Canada Post said Friday it was “reassessing” the new global offers it was set to deliver to the union this week, in light of the “significant transformation changes” put forward by the government.
“We remain committed to reaching negotiated agreements with CUPW that are affordable, support our people and help build a sustainable future for the company,” a spokesperson said.
“We have confirmed with CUPW that we are working diligently and will present these new offers as soon as possible.”
The union said in its own statement Friday that the strike “is about more than just workers’ rights.”
“It’s about defending a public service that communities across this country rely on every single day,” the statement said.
CUPW said the proposed changes were “a direct attack by the Government on postal workers and on the future of our public postal service.”
“Instead of supporting good, stable jobs and protecting universal mail service for all Canadians, the Government has chosen to side with Canada Post’s corporate plan—a plan that the Union has long warned was designed to erode services, undermine workers, and pave the way for privatization,” CUPW said.
Joël Lightbound, the minister responsible for Canada Post, announced earlier Thursday that the government will lift its moratorium that has prevented Canada Post from shifting all remaining door-to-door delivery for individual addresses to community mailboxes.
The federal government will allow Canada Post to close some post offices they no longer deem necessary due to growth in once-rural areas. Letter delivery standards will also be relaxed, ending the movement of non-urgent mail by air.
Get breaking National news
In May, an industrial inquiry commission report said Canada Post is “effectively insolvent” as it continues to face financial issues. Lightbound and the company say the new changes are necessary to ensure Canada Post’s survival.
In response, CUPW announced their members would be going on strike with immediate effect, adding that the “future of the post office is on the line.”
“Rural and Indigenous communities will travel farther for mail. Community Mailboxes lower property values and pose safety risks, especially for seniors and those with mobility issues, and privatization will gut services in unprofitable areas,” CUPW said in a statement.
“Competing with U.S. e-commerce giants shouldn’t mean lower standards. Workers deserve fair treatment, and Canadians deserve reliable, to-the-door service!”
Canada Post said it was “disappointed that, in response to the government’s reforms, the union chose to launch a national strike.”
“This will further deteriorate Canada Post’s financial situation,” it added, arguing the demands in CUPW’s latest offers would also add “significant” costs to the financially struggling company.
CUPW has argued that Canada Post’s claims of dire finances are overblown and could be solved with increasing stamp rates and reducing management staffing and salaries — moves Lightbound said Thursday he’s also pushing for.
What happens to the mail?
Canada Post has said customers should expect delays.
“Mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered for the duration of the national strike, and some post offices will be closed,” Canada Post said in a statement.
Service guarantees are suspended for items already in the postal network and no new items will be accepted until the national disruption is over, the postal service said.
“All mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume,” Canada Post said, adding, however, that a national strike of any length would mean service will be impacted “well after the strike activity ends.”
“Processing and delivery may take some time to fully return to normal,” Canada Post said.
CUPW and Canada Post agreed that socio-economic cheques will continue to be delivered.
This includes government financial assistance delivered by mail to seniors and other Canadians who rely on it.
While Canada Post and its workers will continue shipments of live animals, no new shipments will be accepted.
'Not welcome news'
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business warned that the strike would have a “massive” impact on small businesses.
“Last year’s strike alone cost small firms over $1 billion. Doing this in the lead-up to the critical holiday retail shipping season is especially troubling,” CFIB president Dan Kelly said in a statement.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce urged both Canada Post and CUPW to head back to the bargaining table with a “commitment to good faith negotiation focused on how to best support consumers and businesses.”
“Canadians are counting on Canada Post to deliver and, following years of repeated supply chain disruptions, another strike is not welcome news,” Canadian Chamber of Commerce vice president Pascal Chan said.
Comments