Mail collection and delivery in Canada has been completely halted. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the labour union for Canada Post, which handles Canada’s postal service, went on strike on November 15th.
The Labor union had given 72-hour notice of the strike on the 12th of this month, but negotiations continued until the last minute, and there was a possibility that a strike could be avoided. But the CUPW says Canada Post’s proposed conditions, which include an 11.5% pay increase over four years, pension guarantees, job security and benefits, are not enough. “Canada Post needs to demonstrate its willingness to resolve our new outstanding issues,” the union said in a statement.
Federal Labour Minister Stephen McKinnon told reporters in Montreal, Quebec, on the morning of the 15th that “there are no plans for government intervention.” Canada Post is a trade union that represents about 55,000 employees, with a federal election coming up next fall.
The complete suspension of postal services will have a major impact on businesses and citizens during Black Friday and the Christmas shopping season. On November 12, the government finally intervened to lift the suspension of operations at the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Montreal due to the facility blockade, and cargo has just started moving from the port.
Canada Post released a statement, “During the strike, mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered and some post offices will be closed. Items already posted will be affected and no new items will be accepted.”