The Union of Postal Workers (STTP) announced on Friday at 12:01 a.m. that it had started a strike.
CUPW represents 55,000 members across the country, including urban, rural and suburban mail carriers. At the end of October, its members voted 95% for a strike mandate.
“After a year of negotiations without real progress, postal workers have made the tough decision to go on strike,” CUPW wrote in a press release, which describes the measure as a “last resort.”
The union deplores that Canada Post “gave them no choice” to launch this strike, in “refusal[ant] to negotiate real solutions.
“We still have hope of obtaining negotiated collective agreements, but to do this, Canada Post must want to resolve our problems, whether recent or long-standing.”
At the time of writing, Canada Post had not responded to the strike.
Delays to be expected
When CUPW issued a strike notice three days ago, it had not yet decided whether a work stoppage would be “initiated immediately.”
This “will depend on Canada Post’s actions at the negotiating table over the coming days,” he said.
The employer also issued a lockout notice on Tuesday, in response to the union, which it accuses of “resisting[r] to change”.
Both sides have already committed to maintaining essential services in the event of a strike, including the delivery of pension and welfare checks as well as live animals.
The company, however, warned that other services could be delayed.
