Canada Post workers' rotating strike hits Calgary, Red Deer

If you’re waiting on a package, you may need to be a bit more patient.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ strike made its way to Calgary as of 6 pm on Wednesday, October 24 — two days after the rotating 24-hour long strikes began in Victoria, BC, Edmonton, AB, Windsor, ON, and Halifax, NS in the early hours of Monday, October 22.

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“Canada Post had the opportunity this weekend to stop any postal disruption on Monday, but instead, as they have for almost a year, they refused to talk about the issues that matter to our members,” said Mike Palecek, CUPW National President, in a statement.

“Our goal has always been a negotiated settlement but we will not agree to anything that doesn’t address health and safety, gender equality and good, full-time middle-class jobs.”

The Calgary strike will last until 6 pm Thursday, while Red Deer postal workers began their strike as of 6 am Thursday and will continue until 6 am Friday.

Sherbrooke, Quebec began their strike at 4 am (EDT) on Thursday as well.

CUPW opted for rotating strikes to minimize the impact of a postal disruption on customers –mail will still be delivered, although it could be delayed.

During the rotating strike, Canada Post continues to operate across Canada and is still accepting and delivering mail and parcels in all other locations.

The strike started after negotiators failed to reach a new contract agreement before the union’s Monday strike deadline for the Urban Postal Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) bargaining units.

According to a release from Canada Post, a special mediator has been appointed by Patty Hajdu, the federal minister of employment, workforce development, and labour in the hopes of reaching a settlement between the two sides.

Key demands for postal workers during bargaining include:

• Job security
• End to forced overtime and overburdening
• Better health and safety measures
• Service expansion
• Equality for RSMCs

– With files from Ainsley Smith.