Canada’s postal strike continues, despite talks that took place Monday with mediators moving between rooms containing Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Canada Post representatives.
A settlement hasn’t been reached, but according to CUPW president Jan Simpson, after a year of talks, the employer “finally began to move on the pressing issues,” Simpson said online Tuesday.
“Resolving these issues could pave the way to agreements; the more individual issues are resolved, the better,” Simpson said.
However, in a statement, Canada Post said the parties “remain far apart” but that the Crown corporation continues to aim for a deal hammered out at the bargaining table.
CUPW, with 55,000 members, went on strike Nov. 15 over issues such as wage increases to meet inflation, higher short-term disability payments, increasing injury-on-duty payments to 88 percent, adding 10 paid medical days in addition to the existing seven paid personal days, better group benefits, improved protection against tech change and harassment and no contracting out.
Those issues are common to both rural and urban postal workers, with other issues particular to the different sectors.
The union is calling for a cumulative wage hike of 24 percent over four years, while Canada Post has offered an 11.5 percent increase.
Ladner letter carrier Sandra Worrall, who works out of the Delta main depot in Ladner Village, says one issue is a new bundling system being proposed that would have carriers have to carry three separate, previously prepared bundles of mail, instead of one.
“Imagine trying to come up the stairs with three bundles, you can’t hold onto the railing, and then bending down and putting the mail through a slot. Your hands are full,” she said.
Another carrier added that a similar system was tried in the 1980s and injury rates skyrocketed.
About 27 CUPW members work out of the Delta main depot and the average wage is about $30 an hour.
“We’re just hoping for obviously a solution because we sure don’t like being without work,” Worrall said.
She noted that Canada Child Benefit cheques will still be delivered on Wednesday (Nov. 20).
Workers on the picket line said they’re getting good support from the public.
According to Canada Post, customers will experience delays because of the strike. Mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered, and some post offices will be closed, and no new items will be accepted until the strike is over.
- With files from CP
