Canada Post has confirmed that 55,000 workers have gone on strike today after lengthy pay negotiations failed. The strike is strategically timed to maximize its impact as the peak holiday shopping season approaches.
In a statement, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), which represents the workers, expressed that after a year of stagnant negotiations, they had no choice but to strike. “Canada Post had the opportunity to prevent this strike, but it has refused to negotiate genuine solutions to the issues postal workers face every day. Instead, Canada Post left us with no choice when it threatened to change our working conditions and put our members at risk of layoffs.”
The union states that its demands are “reasonable,” focusing on fair wages, safe working conditions, the right to retire with dignity, and the expansion of services at the public post office. “Postal workers take pride in serving their communities, and we want to continue doing the job we love. A strike is a last resort. We still believe we can reach negotiated collective agreements, but Canada Post must be willing to address our new and outstanding issues,” says the CUPW.
Today, Canada Post announced to its customers that there will be delays. “Customers will experience delays due to strike activity. Mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered during the national strike, and some post offices will be closed. Service guarantees will be affected for items already in the postal network. No new items will be accepted until the national disruption is over.”
The strike follows a three-day notice that was provided to Canada Post earlier this week.
By CEO NA Editorial Staff
