As the Canada Post strike enters its fourth week of halted deliveries and no pay for workers, alternative postal services are being inundated with orders.
On Dec. 3, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced it presented Canada Post with a response to its “framework,” as UPS and Purolotor face high delivery demand leading to the freezing of some shipments.
Earlier this week, Canada Post presented CUPW with a detailed framework in an effort to move discussions forward, which would “bring greater flexibility to the Corporation’s delivery model, while also demonstrating movement on other key issues,” according to Canada Post’s statement.
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The CUPW said that the National Executive Board met to finalize the union’s response to Canada Post this week and sent a finalized response forward to the special mediator on Dec. 4.
The response highlighted four key issues which they “need to see addressed” if they are to achieve negotiated collective agreements.
One of the issues includes improving safe working conditions. “We need Canada Post to live up to its word and make worker health and safety the priority it says it is. Carriers need time to prepare and deliver Neighbourhood Mail, so they aren’t overburdened, and real fixes to problems like late start times so they aren’t working in the dark,” CUPW said in the statement.
The other areas include fair wages, retiring with dignity, and expanding services at the post office, including postal banking and electric vehicle charging stations.
“It is our hope that these proposals will reignite discussions and, together with the support of mediators, help the parties work toward final agreements,” CUPW said.
The special mediator has not yet re-engaged CUPW and Canada Post after discussions were paused on Nov 27.
On Thursday, Canada Post said that it was reviewing the response from the union.
As the strike enters its fourth week, other postal services are being swamped with orders to deliver in Canada Post’s absence.
This week, Purolator and UPS said that they have paused shipments from some courier companies to keep up with high delivery demands ahead of the holidays, according to the Canadian Press.
Purolator cited severe weather and an increase in package volumes led to it pausing service for some partners to “prioritize critical shipments.”
