On October 22, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) began to hold rotating strikes after ten months of negotiations with Canada Post regarding contract changes. The aim of these strikes is to achieve job security, to end forced overtime, and to obtain the expansion of services that postal workers countrywide feel is imperative to the service that they offer. Most of the 50,000 unionized workers in the country have joined the strike’s picket lines, protesting what they feel are poor working conditions and environmentally negligent practices, and demanding that Canada Post become a place of work that conforms to contemporary ethical standards, especially in rural and suburban areas.
Postal operations have been shut down in over 150 communities across Canada, including postal sorting hubs in the cities of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Striking workers left picket lines out of respect for Remembrance Day, but when the strike resumed, as many as 180 trailers of parcels and other post were left idle in Toronto, resulting in postal delays across the city. Canada Post itself has mentioned that “backlogs and delay” are to be expected, and there is no end in sight to the suspension of regular service.
After three rounds of negotiations, which have lasted almost a full year, Morton Mitchnick, a “special mediator,” was assigned to the dispute for two and a half weeks, but there is still no sign of a deal being made. The postal union has made a statement claiming that both sides remain “far apart.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned that the government may be forced to intervene if the disagreement continues, but has refrained from mentioning any plans for a tangible solution to the problem. In 2011, the Conservative-led federal government forced an end to a similar dispute between workers and management, although this was accomplished in a way that was declared unconstitutional. This decision occurred after postal workers had been locked out by Canada Post for two weeks. The Liberal government under Trudeau may be expected to approach the strikes in a more constitutional manner.
As the holiday season approaches, many have expressed concerns about Canada Post’s ability to handle the annual requirement for efficient postage in December. With more people ordering packages than at any other time of year, and with a vastly diminished workforce, the postal service might struggle to keep up with demand.
