Rotating strikes by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) continued in Montreal Monday, following similar walkouts last week in Winnipeg and Hamilton.
So far across Alberta, including the Athabasca-Boyle area, it’s business as usual with no disruption in postal service. However, that could change at a moment’s notice — and almost did late last week.
“We’ve been closely monitoring the potential of postal strike for several weeks now, both locally and through our provincial association,” Athabasca Advocate publisher Ross Hunter said. “Up until Wednesday, Canada Post told us that since postal workers in our area are not represented by CUPW, local mail delivery would not be affected by a postal strike.
“Then, at 9:30 Wednesday morning, Canada Post informed us that in the event of a CUPW strike, all of Canada Post would shut down.”
Hunter said contingencies were put in place to establish pick-up locations throughout the region for Advocate subscribers. Then, just as quickly, the situation changed again.
“On Thursday morning, Canada Post told us that since CUPW was initiating a rotating strike, all unaffected Canada Post outlets would remain open as usual.
“That was certainly a relief,” Hunter said, “but we have no assurance that this situation will continue. We’ll keep our contingency plans in place until, hopefully, the labour issue between Canada Post and CUPW is settled.”
CUPW issued its 72-hour strike warning last Monday, and Canada Post workers in Winnipeg took the picket line at midnight last Thursday.
“We weren’t able to reach an agreement, and I guess that’s the short answer,” John Caines, media relations for Canada Post said. “We have been negotiating since October, and we’re still negotiating, and hopefully we’re going to get an agreement as to why we’re doing this.”
“The union and management can’t agree on a contract. That’s what happens in these situations,” Caines added. “What it effects is the union of postal workers, who are the people who sort the mail, deliver the mail and work in our corporate outlets.”
