Michel Lavigne
Publisher
Our local businesses that depend on mailing out parcels to their customers are affected. Our local seniors who are waiting on a letter or parcel are affected. Our local newspaper cannot deliver papers to their paid subscribers. Local businesses that might be waiting for a few cheques from clients/customers are affected. If local businesses are not being paid what’s due it could cause a huge problem with their cash flow and problems paying their bills. Local businesses that usually mail out invoices are affected. Canada Post has said that it simply can not afford to pay what the workers at asking. Usually when there is a strike the demands are high to start the bargaining at the table. Sooner or later both sides come to some sort of agreement in an effort to get back to operating again.
Canada Post has also said that it is losing money because of a decline in business brought on by other couriers bumping up their game and offering delivery services.
During Covid the parcel business was just insane. Everyone was ordering online and business was brisk. Perhaps Canada Post should have paid more attention to other clients using their service rather that depending on the parcel business, their revenues might have not taken a real big hit.
Hopefully our postal service gets back to a somewhat normal service very soon. You can still purchase stamps, envelopes and other supplies to mail out what you need to.
The corporation has offered wage increases of 11.5 per cent over four years and included protection of the defined benefit pension plan. The union is asking for wage increases that are consistent with inflation, an end to some contracting out of work and expansion of services into postal banking and “senior and other check ins and an e-commerce platform.” There are separate agreements for urban and suburban/rural carriers. The union wants, “job security in line with the Urban agreement,” among a long list of what the union terms “unresolved issues.”
The federal government has stated it is not currently evaluating a forced end to the work stoppage. Late last week the government appointed a special mediator to work with the two sides. Both parties welcomed the appointment. Canada Post noted the sides remain fair apart in negotiations. According to reporting from the CBC before the strike, the union was asking for a 23 per cent wage increase over four years.
Canada Post and the union have agreed to continue to deliver social benefit cheques for the duration of the work stoppage. These include CPP, OAS, Canada Child Benefit among others.
Canada Post spokesperson Phil Rogers said, via email that the strike will impact Canadians, “small businesses as well as our ability to get mail to and from Santa in the North Pole. It is our hope that postal operations can resume as soon as possible at this critical time for customers.”
Representatives for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers did not respond to inquiries prior to our print deadline.
Hannah Gusoskie from the Township of Madawaska Valley said the township doesn’t anticipate any impact on its operations or for residents. The next utility billing isn”t until January. “If the strike looks like it will extend into the new year we will reassess.” People can drop bill payments or other correspondence to the township office. The township website, madawaskavalley.ca and Facebook page have information about the strike for residents.