Canada Post is set to partially resume mail delivery starting Saturday amid a national strike. This development follows the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) altering its strike strategy on Thursday evening. After two weeks of a full strike, the union is now implementing rotating strikes across certain regions.
Rotating Strikes and Regional Impact
The CUPW will limit work stoppages to specific areas, allowing for flexibility in changing locations. Each local postal section will receive advance notice about the status of the strikes. However, the regions affected first have yet to be disclosed.
Response from Union Leadership
Jan Simpson, the national president of the CUPW, stated that this action will facilitate the processing and delivery of mail while continuing efforts for robust collective agreements and maintaining public postal service. The postal workers initiated the strike in response to significant changes imposed by the federal government concerning Canada Post’s operations.
Controversy Over Recent Changes
These changes include the increased use of community mailboxes and the closure of some rural post offices. While Canada Post supports these strategic shifts, the union opposes them, citing potential job losses and service reductions.
Simpson criticized the employer for seeking to diminish the services and workers’ rights during the latest negotiations. The CUPW considers recent employer proposals an attack on public postal service.
Negotiation Updates
Last week, Canada Post made a new offer, proposing a 13.56% salary increase over four years, but this was coupled with job cuts and the elimination of hiring bonuses. A follow-up meeting is scheduled next week between the CUPW and the team from Public Affairs Minister Joël Lightbound.
Concerns Over Municipal Elections
As municipal elections approach, the Metropolitan Community of Montreal (CMM) has urged for the recognition of electoral document distribution as an essential service. The CMM, representing 82 municipalities, adopted this resolution recently, emphasizing the need for timely mailing of election documents to ensure citizen participation.
Potential Election Impact
- The upcoming municipal elections are scheduled for November 2.
- Catherine Fournier, CMM executive committee vice-president and mayor of Longueuil, expressed concerns about low voter turnouts if ballots are not delivered on time.
- Stéphane Boyer, CMM council vice-president and Laval mayor, reiterated the need for prompt action from the federal government.
- There are increasing worries among municipal leaders about the risk to mail-in ballots for nearly 6 million citizens.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the City of St. John’s postponed its municipal elections by six days due to the ongoing strike, rescheduling from October 2 to October 8. The combination of the strike and its impact on postal services raises significant concerns regarding voter engagement and participation.
