55 Thousand Canadian Post Workers Go On Nationwide Strike Ahead Of Holiday Season

By Reuters
Posted on 11/16/24 | News Source: Reuters

About 55,000 Canada Post workers went on strike for the second time in six years on Friday after their union said it had failed to reach a pay deal with the postal operator in the run-up to the holiday season.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, who has twice this year moved to end work disputes in other sectors, made clear he was not considering another intervention for the time being.

The union is demanding wage increases in line with inflation, cost-of-living adjustment payments to be rolled into the basic wage rate, and safe working conditions. The union had issued a three-day strike notice earlier this week.

"After a year of bargaining with little progress, postal workers made the difficult decision to strike, opens new tab," the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said in a statement.

Separately, Canada Post said operations would shut down, opens new tab during the strike.

"It's very hard with rent and groceries and a lot of other things that just keep going up and up and up around us," said Reagan Johnston, who has been working at Canada Post for eight years. "We want a real contract that we can go home and be proud of."

If the strike drags on, it could boost business for private rivals United Parcel Service (UPS.N), opens new tab and FedEx (FDX.N), opens new tab.

Johnston, a shop steward at Albert Jackson processing centre, said he looked forward to making Christmas deliveries once there was a contract.

"We will do our hardest to make sure that we deliver Christmas to every Canadian," he said.

In November 2018, the Liberal government pushed through back-to-work legislation to end a month-long strike by Canada Post employees.

Earlier this week, the Liberal government ordered an end to disputes at Canada's two biggest ports and in August, it put an end to work stoppages at the two largest railway companies.

"I'm not looking at any other solution other than negotiation right now," MacKinnon told reporters in Montreal when asked about the dispute.

"We are going to continue to support the parties in any way we can and make sure that they are able to try and get a negotiated agreement."

MacKinnon said on Thursday that he had formally appointed a special mediator between Canada Post and the workers' union.