Postal strike hits Edmonton and Calgary late Tuesday

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Postal strike hits Edmonton and Calgary late Tuesday

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CTV Atlantic: Dina Bartolacci on the strike

The rotating strike hit New Brunswick Tuesday, resulting in no mail delivery in Moncton as postal workers there walked the picket line.

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Canada Post workers picket outside a sorting depot in the borough of Ville St-Laurent in Montreal, Monday, June 6, 2011. (Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Tue. Jun. 7 2011 9:48 PM ET

Thousands of postal workers in Calgary and Edmonton will walk off the job Tuesday night as part of a rotating strike that has hit cities across the country.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says the strike will continue in the two cities for 24 hours, with 4,000 workers hitting the picket lines at 9 p.m. local time in Calgary and an hour later in Edmonton.

Gord Fischer, who is the national director for the CUPW's Prairie region, said that forced overtime often occurs in the two cities because of poor staffing.

"Canada Post is refusing to put proper staffing in place, leading to overwork and forced overtime," Fischer said in a media release. "Routes don't get covered and mail ends up sitting in the depots, leading to complaints about service."

He added that "the union has clear demands about improving our service and making sure adequate staffing is in place. Canada Post wants us to do more with less, regardless of what that does to the public's postal service."

Earlier, the rotating postal strikes hit Moncton, N.B., and Victoria for Tuesday, as Canada Post remained at odds with the union.

Five days into the strike, the two sides have yet to find much common ground. No meetings took place on Tuesday between the two sides.

Also on Tuesday, Jon Hamilton, a spokesperson for Canada Post, said the company is waiting for the union to respond to its latest offer.

"This generous offer is what's on the table, while the union continues their disruptive strike activities across the country," Hamilton said.

Union officials have said that there is a disagreement about pensions, staffing and the short-term disability plan in the next contract.

A statement posted on the Canada Post website on Monday indicated that the latest CUPW proposals "remain too expensive and fail to address the challenges facing the postal system."

Canada Post says that mail volumes are in decline, the post office faces greater competition and the public is increasingly using electronic services in lieu of traditional mail.

But the post office says the union "has not yet put forward an offer that could form the basis of a deal with Canada Post."

For now, postal workers are continuing to accept and process mail in all locations that are not in the midst of a rotating strike.

Rotating strikes have already occurred in Winnipeg, Hamilton and Montreal since the strike began last week.

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

In BC
said

I hope Canada Post is reading these comments as there have been several good suggestions for reducing costs by service reductions ie. reduce number of delivery days a week, making all residential deliveries into super mailboxes, to name a couple. These might be good business decisions but will be liked even less by the union. It seems that a lot of the things that the union is griping about are basically business decisions by Canada Post such as closing the sorting plant here in Victoria which are aimed at cost reductions and making Canada Post more efficient.

Timothy AJ
said

It seems to me that most of what gets delivered to my snail mail inbox is junk mail, anyway. So, I encourage the posties to go on strike until the end of the year, at least. I would consider it a personal favour. Thanks.

In BC
said

So Rob, what part of the union do you work for?

DC in AB
said

You know, come to think of it, Canada Post going on strike (and perhaps causing their own demise) might actually be good for the environment. Think of how many trucks it would take off the street? I mean, considering many of us don't really use Canada Post anymore... yet the trucks still drive around... this could really cut down on green house gases.

DC in AB
said

Oh no! What am I going to do now that Canada Post is on strike in Calgary? I mean, my mail lady only comes once a week, and she was here today. I don't know what I'll do... Also, if they stay on strike for another week, how will I ever survive with not getting junk mail for a couple days. Oh the humanity! I just don't know what I'm going to do if I don't get another Publisher's Clearing House letter...To the management of Canada Post, please oh please give in to these underachieving lazy workers overpriced demands! Pay them whatever they wants, please just get me my junk mail back...

danno
said

#1.Your taxes do not pay postie wages,Canada Post makes profits and gives the goverment millions each year.
#2.If you do not want,flyers,junk mail,ad mail ect. let your post office know or leave a note on your mail box (NO JUNK MAIL PLEASE) or (NO FLYERS PLEASE) or (NO AD MAIL PLEASE) & the mail carrier will not give you any.
the note must remain on the box

Beth
said

My experience this week was to use the alternative methods of getting my mail to its destination. So I mailed some through Canada Post last Thursday and I sent some by the other company that is promising to pick up the slack. The Canada Post mail arrived safe and sound. I have asked the other company to please return my mail as they still have not been able to deliver it to the street address provided. I think Canada Post is very relevent.

Disgusted
said

The reason they are always short staffed and have forced overtime is that so many of the whiners phone in sick all the time, not because they are sick but because they are ENTITLED to it.

Rob
said

The truth is that the post office and postal workers do not cost the public money. Canada Post has made $1.7 billion in the last 15 years and paid $1.2 billion in dividends and income tax to the federal government. By keeping Canada Post profitable, postal workers actually save the public money (Source: Canada Post annual reports).

Rob
said

Canada Post is very productive. Unlike many companies, Canada Post has significantly increased productivity in the last two years. For example, mail processing productivity levels for transaction mail have increased by 6.7 per cent (Source: Canada Post through Appendix P of our contract). That is, the number of pieces of mail processed per paid hour has gone up. In addition, the number of workers has gone down. The corporation has cut staff to compensate for the decline in mail volumes. Proportionately, the cuts to staff have been greater than the decline in volumes. The corporation is also expecting large productivity gains from its $2 billion modernization program. Canada Post�s high productivity has allowed it to keep postage rates low, make profits and put substantial dividends and income tax into public coffers

Rob
said

Our 59 cent stamp is one of the biggest bargains in the industrialized world. People in Japan pay the equivalent of 94 cents Canadian to send a standard domestic letter. In Austria, they pay 88 cents and in Germany they pay 78 cents (Source: Japan Post, Austrian Post and Deutsche Post). The real price of a stamp has actually decreased since Canada Post was set up as a Crown corporation in October of 1981. At the time, the government of the day established a 30 cent stamp because the post office was losing hundreds of millions of dollars a year. The price of a stamp has increased 96.7 per cent since this time (January 1982 to March 2011) while the consumer price index has increased by 128.8 per cent over the same period.

Rob
said

It is true that lettermail volumes are declining slowly. But the letter is by no means dead and buried. In fact, transaction or lettermail volumes are 10 per cent higher than they were in 1997, the last time CUPW went on strike (Source: Canada Post annual reports).

TRM
said

The joke is on every Canadian throughout the country. We will soon all pay for a nice big fat raise along with all the perks to these postal workers due to our silent government who stays silent and sits on their hands. Thank you Mr. DO NOTHING HARPER, way to go.

Cindy in Calgary
said

You know...most do not even care what they whine about. E bills and online banking makes Canada Post a dinasour. I for one am sick of the JUNK mail...which is the only thing that I get these days. If I need something to go other than the mail....I will send FEDEX!!! At least I know that it will get there!!! Oh and Calgary is not already on strike.

Twyla In Calgary
said

Ha! This forum is fabulous!I really really hope that BOTH Canada Post and CUPW are reading people's comments, because it is very telling.Just not a whole lotta sympathy for unions on these pages...:-)

Mikey
said

Using CUPW logic, because banks make large profits, all bankers should get big pay increases? No, that's now how it works in the real world, a world that unions are out of touch with. Your pay is not commensurate with the profits of who you work for, it's commensurate with the knowledge, skills, and experience required to do the job.

Oliver in Manotick
said

Let 'em mull all they want. If they decide to pull it, please announce it here so we know what's going on. Otherwise we might not be aware of it....or care.They should be very careful what they do. There is little or no public sympathy out there and a full strike will just just erode that. The public just isn't prepared to put up with this kind of guff any longer.

Cam in Grande Prairie
said

Things have changed....Canada Post employees may be pushing the demise of more of their own on this one. I for one have resisted email delivery of bills and other irregular bills such as property taxes and insurance however I do pay "all" these bills online now. Should the strike go national..I for one will opt for the paperless delivery of all my bills online...approximately 8 each month or about $4.00/month in postage that Canada Post now recieves to pay letter carriers, etc. If 10,000,000 other Canadians were to end up doing the same ...that would be $40,000,000/month or $560,000,000/year that Canada Post would lose in revenue...that would cost a few jobs Postal Workers now have. Twenty years ago there were few options for bill delivery and payment of those bills, now there is one...it is called the internet which more people will turn to if inconvenienced as it looks like we may be. Beware Posatl Workers how hard you push on this one....You may witness the loss of many jobs....17% drop in mail volume since 2006...bear that number in mind. You may be better off walking your walk...rather than walking the picket line!!!

Mikey
said

In a related story, I've been mulling over how little I care whether the strike goes nationwide. It turns out that I, like most Canadians, don't care at all. CUPW is out to lunch on this one.

Laura
said

I can't believe people still use Canada Post....exactly who do they think this will really affect. It will affect CUPW and their families. They won't be met with resentment by the public, even worse their strike will be met with public indifference. and then what.....

spaz
said

Considering the majority of my mail is advertising of one kind or another, I doubt I will miss it.

Can always make alternative plans to pay bills, and I would gladly do that if a strike would teach the workers.....sorry NON WORKERS...what a cushy high paying job they have.

BillD
said

Dear CUPWYour members should sue the lot of you for lost wages if you go out all the way across the country. I have been legislated by Dalton McGuinty to not get a raise for at least two years. Somehow I have no sympathy for you.

John
said

This is like an ugly divorce. They won't stop until they burn the whole thing to the ground. Goodbye Canada Post.

Pip
said

By all means, go on strike, and stay out. CUPW hasn't grasped the point that you can't operate a modern business with mid-20th century methods and manning levels. And Canada Post, don't cave. Come to that, don't even bother doing anything, just fold and let the private sector deliver the goods: that organization is just as intransigent as the union, with management salaries and benefits eating up way more of the corporation's income than is necessary.

Dennis Guthrie
said

Maybe the government should just pass legistation to disolve the union and end this problem once and for all!

PeterD
said

Does the union not realize that if they call for a nationwide walkout of postal workers, the only people who will ultimately lose will be the posties as people will move to alternative methods of delivery and WILL NOT return once the workers are legislated back to work ( as they will be ).

Jim - North Saanich, BC
said

Except for a bunch of junk mail which I trash anyway, I do not receive any mail of importance and haven't for several years. Therefore I have no need of the services of Canada Post. All my business matters are handled electronically and I can usually get far faster and more reliable delivery of parcels through any of the major courier/parcel services invariably at a lower cost.

Canada Post can have a nationwide strike and bluntly, I don't care and they can stay on strike indefinitely so far as I am concerned. I'm quite certain that should they choose to do this that they are only further cooking their goose with the relatively few Canadians still using the system. So have at it, I could care less!

Trish
said

The letter carriers won't deliver in our neighbourhood anymore, in winter, as they decided it was too dangerous, with the ice and snow. Now we get delivery to the homes only a few months each year. Other times we have to go to a box. This neighbourhood is over 30 years old and this new plan was just implemented 2 years ago. Don't know why they're so special, since we still get flyer and newspaper delivery year round. I hope they get legislated back to work.

Ken
said

Their staring wage is $23.00 an hour. I would LOVE to make that much! I make far less than that and have not had a pay increase in almost 3 years. Why then does the postal union see fit to complicate the rest of our lives for their own selfish agenda? I say fire the lot of them and hire people like me who would get down on my knees and thank God for such a good wage.

Alyssa
said

I know several people who work for Canada Post. The thing that they aren't telling you is that the Union is trying to help the public with the rotating strike. Canada Post may force them to do a full walkout strike. Also, everyone speaks to the large corporate offices and the guys that make TONS of money, how about talking to the ordinary workers, the ones who oppose the strike. Its not that they all want more money. Its that what they have been working for, for some of them over 20 years or more, like the sick leave, is being taken out right underneath them. Its like paying into an insurance company only to find out that they decide not to cover house fires when your house catches fire! Not to mention, before the strike even started and continuing now when the majority of postal workers are continuing to strike, the Post office pulled their benefits. These are benefits that these people have been paying for well over 6 months in advance and they took them away without warning. They are looking at a major legal mess that is for sure. AND for people who have had vacation days booked WAY before a strike was even thought of (booked since last year) they are being called at home and told that if they don't come into work that they will not be paid. Yet this is their paid vacation time. I think they should forget about the strike and focus on suing the Post Office. Here are corporate bullies who are whining that they only made 16 BILLION dollars last year! They are simply being greedy and sucking money out of ordinary everyday people. Someone should investigate what the Post Office(corporation) ACTUALLY does.

Our Canada's Postal Service
said

Hellooo!!!??? It was NOT CUPW that wanted CPC to borrow $2 - 3 billion dollars to change the internal/external working infrastructure. Fact of the matter is Canada Post is doing very well financially for the past 16 years in profits. So when you hear CPC claiming our letter mail volume is down 16-17%, why then did CPC decide to overhaul the current system?CPC looked at the US postal model and decided that CPC wanted the same plant systems. And guess what folks? USPS is in the deep RED to the tune of 10 to 15 billion dollars in 2011! The past Canada Post CEO, Ms Moya Greene left her $600,000 post to help privatize the Royal Mail.Even though she is gone she orchestrated the multi billion changes to our postal system.We know CPC has to repay back the loan, she and the rest of CPC mgt. decided to attack the wages and benefits of the postal workers.

janeb
said

The only thing the union is going to accomplish is lots of new job creation in the employement insurance sector. Service Canada will have to increase their work force to handle all the unemployed postal workers!
That's my 2cents!

TDB
said

I say FIRE them all and if they want to work for Canada Post, hire them back as NON Union.

Fire Them All
said

Since there will be no production from them, might as well fire them all and start from scratch. Unions have long outlasted their initial usefulness to fight oppressive work conditions. They are now trying to fight a technological beast with antiquated thinking.

Carol
said

Maybe some of you people should look up the definition of 'crown corporation' Then you will realize that NONE of your tax dollars are being spent to keep Canada Post in business. It is run as a business without the help of your money. I'm a letter carrier and I hope that not everyone believes everything they read...We don't have starting salaries of $26 an hr., or an automatic 7 week's holidays, or retirement at age 55 with a full pension(unless you have 35 yrs. service).Yeah, everyone thinks that we have it great,but the only way we finish before our 8 hour shift is by speed- walking.Ask your letter carrier what time they normally finish their route 7 months of the year.Next time you hear smog advisories,or wind-chill warnings, take a look out your cozy window...someone is bringing your mail.

@trunorth
said

What world does CUPW live in?They live in the fantasy world of pampered, under worked, over paid, entitled public sector unions. We need some of their brothers and sisters from the private sector to chime in and tell them what's been going on on this side of the fence for a few years. The folks at Canada Post really have no idea.

Derek
said

I agree with Will and Mark. Time to enjoy no junk mail for a bit and do more online transactions. If you need to send something in the mail there are other options. It takes us 1-1/2 to 2 weeks to receive a letter in the mail from salmon arm B.C. to calgary A.B.

Tara
said

GOOD! Go on strike. Just the simple threat of it has people opting to choose other on-line options or shipping with UPS/FedEx/Purolator etc.

What the Union and its workers may not realize is that their actions are going to hurt THEMSELVES in the end - by showing people Canada Post is not a reliable service and that other viable options exist out there, thus decreasing the business awarded to Canada Post, and decreasing the staffing needs.

Dose of reality...
said

This is an interesting game of chicken. The union knows that if it does go on full strike, they will never recover the lost business. CP can't lock them out, because they will never recover the lost business...Although Union greed will eventually cause them to move first... Maybe they can join the retired milkman union locals in a sympathy strike.Do not threaten to remove a service that people are obviously viewing as non-essential anymore, or force them into using technology that will prove your union less valuable then EVER before.As for "working conditions" and "they (CP) make their money off the workers backs" commentary, I hate to break it to you. It is the same job YOU applied for, YOU chose to work in. Companies MAKE their money by utilizing EMPLOYEES labour and skill. Some jobs (AKA your union job) are more labour than skill, and you need to realize that your salary is inflated for what you contribute. When you make more than a educator and other SKILLED positions, you might be pricing yourself out of a market no longer sustainable with your demands.

Bobbie Jones
said

Volume has dropped by 50% since the rolling strike started. If the volume drops even further, CP can just give the CUPW what they want and then immediately fire 75% of the workforce.Why keep so many people around when your strike has chased away all your customers?

John
said

You all have no clue to the details of the items they are fighting for. So why run your mouths when you just don't know what to argue about. However I am family of a CUPW and disagree with many of the demands the union is making. ..the strike will never last long, so stop freaking out about it. In 1997 they were ordered back to work within 2 weeks. Just makes me sick to see some of the idiotic comments people post on here.

trunorth
said

What world does CUPW live in?

MikefromQuebec
said

Bad move. If you force people to go the online route to pay bills and conduct their everyday affairs, you might just drive them away from Canada Post altogether. I do online banking and don't require home delivery of anything to do with my bank. I'm pretty sure I can do most of my insurance and tax stuff online too. So why do I need to pay more for a postal service.

Roger
said

What is there to mull. Go ahead and strike. It will only expedite the beginning of the end for this bunch of whinners and we will finally say goodbye to the greedy union behind them.

Proud ConBot
said

All unions should cease to exist. There should be no minimum wage, only wages based on amount of work completed.Benefits should be earned through loyalty to the company.Everything should be privatized; having the power in the hands of few at the top allows for better decision making.No lunches or breaks should be paid for, it costs the company money.Overtime pay should be abolished, I own a business and I don't pay myself 'overtime', why should anyone else get it?There should be NO rules regulating the free market. If you fail, you fail... deal with it, it's capitalism... And no handouts either. Failure must be met with hard work to get back onto your feet. the Republicans in the States have the right idea.

Brian From Red Deer
said

Now that they have the budget out of the way the next order of business for the government would be back to work legislation if the strike goes nation wide.

fed up
said

I would urge Canada post employees to go on strike and force to get this settle as fast as possible and I would have Canada post declared an essential service and that future negotiations would be solved by arbitration and not by strikes.

justfedup
said

Unions do provide a benefit to society but...this union is unclear on the concept. They represent a dying industry and a workforce that can be replaced easily and a company that could be much more productive and effecient. I use canpost everyday for business, they are the cheapest compared with fedex ups purolator but they are also the laziest, rudest, dumbest employees I have ever come across. Their sense of entitlement is astounding and their working conditions and benefits are amazing in this day and age. SHUT UP and get back to work you lazy maroons because befroe you know it you will out of a sweet gig.

Joe Sweeney
said

Tweet from comedian Will Kennedy: "Canada Post to go on full strike. However will I send letters & correspond with people -- asked citizens everywhere over the age of 80."

George in Ottawa
said

The only thing I ever use Canada Post for is purchases from Amazon. Amazon will just use UPS instead. They already do use UPS, even when Canada Post is not on strike, when my order is $80 or more. I'm guessing they trust UPS more. So far it's a good strategy - I've only had 2 lost packages in the past 5 years and both with Canada Post.I'd say just fire them all and be done with it. Private carriers like UPS, Fedex or Purolator do a better job already. Let them hire the best ex-Canada Post employees if they want, and the rest can go look for jobs in a different field.

Paul from Pickering
said

If CUPW thinks a nationwide strike will help their cause, they're living in some kind of fantasy world.Canadians have had enough with unions holding a gun to our heads. We're not going to take it anymore.I hope CUPE is paying attention too.

marlene
said

Most Canadians do not use the postal service for mail, alot of our bills come to us by email and we pay them thru online banking. The government needs to sell this corporation and let them complete with other companies like UPS, Fedex to save Canada some money and bring down the deficit.

B in Ottawa
said

This is so foolish of a postal union to go on strike. It exposes them as people who are already overpaid to do a decreasing amount of work. Few Canadians will care, or even notice that they are on strike. If anything, people will see it as a positive as junk mail won't be delivered. The postal people in my area drive around in their cars, delivering mail to the boxes. It takes absolutely no skill at all. For this they are paid a hefty salary and pensions from my tax dollars. I say let them strike. Maybe in a while they will realize they actually have it pretty good, considering they do a job that a lot of us don't really need any more.

Matt
said

Oh no, God forbit a postal worker actually has to..you know...work. How dare we expect them to do their jobs.....Imho, The way unions are run today should be outlawed. It's not our responsiblity to pay for someone elses discontent. We have a huge unemployment rate in this country and the union has the gall to go on strike? In the real world, people who don't show up for work get fired. Unions live in this fantasy land and apparently, they never received the memo.I say hire someone willing to work.

Bob,Calgary,Alberta
said

Let these clowns strike nationwide. I'm POed with certain unionized members of the public service getting far more than their fair share at the expense of the rest of us. Perhaps a countrywide strike will mobilize public opinion enough so that the Harper government will start to plan for the demise of this antiquated institution held ransom by left-wing radicals like Denis Lemelin and his ilk. Public servants in Canada provide mediocre service to taxpayers and yet studies show on average they earn double what workers in the private sector make.

EdmBoy
said

Do you realize how difficult it is now going to be to get a decent t-time out on the course now that the Postie Summer Golf (aka strike) tour is in? Sorry but the average Joe really doesn't care. Enjoy your summer off.

Cambob in Toronto
said

I'm looking forward to having no junk mail delivered again. At this point, no matter what your pathetic demands are, you're just not relevent enough to waste taxpayer dollars on anymore.There is no service you 'provide' that can't be found elsewhere.

M in AB
said

Threatening to strike nation wide huh? That means that I won't have to pull those annoying flyers (not requested) out of my mailbox and ram them into return mail because I'm so fed up in receiving them? I also won't have to ask my neighbor about 1 block away if she received one of our business's Accts Rec cheques (which in some cases amounts in the thousands? These are dropped into the Wrong mail box repeatedly regardless of the amount of complaining we do.

And you have the NERVE to ask for anything. (I'm the one who should be going .....postal!!! ;)

M

don
said

We don't need mail delivery and pickup 5 days a week. Eliminate service on Wednesdays. The money saved could pay for the deficiency that Canada Post is experiencing.

Daughter of Parents who SOELEY RELY on C.P.
said

If you saw your own company increase sales example - Canada Post Package Prices increase by 15 - 20 % a year, Stamp Prices increase a Penny a year, but then only get a 2 % wage increase every 3 years while the crown corp is ranking in BILLIONS of $$$ a Year... wouldn't you stand up and say its not fair?Also doesn't everyone notice inflation on other goods yet our wages / raises can't keep up?We all have a right to stand up and fight for what we believe in.To each is their own - opinion wise, lets bring down the crown corp.Ohh and p.s. the Government only pays for the building facilities...it has nothing to do with the business itself.

Cliff
said

How many of you know that a letter carrier is not allowed to read an address on an envelope while walking so they walk. Their route is calculated giving time to walk, time to look at and read the address on the envelope and then deliver it. In reality they look at the name and address while walking and therefor are able to finish an 8 hour day in 4 1/2 hours and go home with a full days pay..hahaha..

Will
said

Fire them all and hire new. Problem solved. Unions might have had a purpose once but those days are over. I agree with the person who points out that unions have too much power, why should one have to pay extortion to a union to be able to work?

mark
said

so I won't get junk mail for a few weeks? SWEET! How long can you overpaid, over-benefited workers stay off? I get every bill online these days, and soon you folks will realize no one cares about a postal strike.

Babe
said

Don't want admail, flyers then do something about it!! Inform your letter Carrier, the corporation or post a sign on your mailbox ... your letter carrier will love you for it!!! They don't like delivering it anymore than you like receiving it but that is where Canada Post makes their money. The letter carriers I know would love for the union to stop being so greedy and settle. Maybe you should ask your letter carrier what they think .... you may be surprised.

Tom
said

R.J. in Halifax you hit the nail on the head, I couldnt agree more . Greed begets greed and these posties have to get into the real world. What a bunch of cry babies. If the postal job doesnt work out for you , I suggest you join the armed force, then I will feel sorry for you.

Gabrielle from L'Orignal
said

Yes, mail delivery is for me an important service. For all those doing all their transactions online, try printing your passport, drivers license,... and see if it will be accepted. NOT. Postal workers are not getting their pay off the back of canadians. Canada Post makes big profit. That is why they give bonuses (they call it work incentives) to the CEO, supervisors, and employees that qualify. Stop this insanity and bargain with the union in good faith. Oh! Why is 3 billion short for the retirement fund, what did you do Canada Post?

Linda
said

Seriously, Canada Post is whining about declining use of the Post Office facilities, and yet they allow this strike to be carried out. Striking is only going to make the situation worse and not better and consumers are going to find other means of getting their correspondance to where they want it, or paying their bills, or issuing the statements or invoices....whatever....there are other means out there now and Canada Post should take that into consideration. Stop raising the rates every year...geee maybe that's a contributing fact to the declining useage?? In this day and age they should be happy with what they have...others are working for minimum...starting and staying at minimum wage, no benefits, not starting at 23 dollars/hour!! and then getting raises...and benefits

Pat
said

Who cares, they are a greedy bunch and should get back to work instead of crying Boo Hoo, so hard done by. No sympathy here, the P.O. is a useless business, has been for a long time. I dont use it so why care. There are other ways and means to get mail sent, and will be delivered on time and not lost.

URU
said

Our country is beginning to feel more like the Middle East world, protest, strike, shortage of money, high food prices, city shootings daily, crime up...and the beat goes on.

Al
said

Let them go on a full fledged strike. When all is said and done there will be many lay-offs to cut costs. These jobs will never come back and these workers will be forced to work for ten dollars an hour like most beginners in the labour force. Sorry, no sympathy here.

RWR
said

I urge all union members of all types that if you are being told or if you think that the private sector has it so much better that you, then please check it out. Some comments have stated "how would you like to be out in all weather?" My employer does expect me to. "how would you like to do more work with less" The private sector has expected this from their emplyees for years wtihout good pay or good benefits or pensions. Please look around you and you might see you are not bad off.

George V.
said

It is just a matter of time that the postal services as we know it will become redundent. With all the private dependable delivery services available from 1st class mail to flyers to parcels. electronic mail, fax etc.Canadians are slowly being weaned of the postal system. The only clout they will have will be the poor and the elderly, whose cheques won't be delivered and can't fight back. Typical union tactics.

Dave in BC
said

Good, please stay on strike. The junk mail can stay with you too. Other than that, my bills are all online. I think the only thing I would miss is a birthday card from my Grandma. Other than that, thank you for keeping my car and pizza flyers.

RnR - Alberta
said

Sure must be a tough life being a postal worker. I didn't know working conditions were bad enough to warrant the formation of a union...Going on strike when times are as tough as they are is a smack in the face to each and every Canadian that is unemployed at this very second. I for one say they should privatize this shameful display so I don't have to subsidize this crap with my tax dollars any longer.

countrydancer
said

doorknob, privatization will not stop unions in the Post Office. CUPW will still be there and bargaining as hard as ever. Unions are constitutionally protected

Erika
said

Oh really... this isn't the TTC striking in Toronto. We can no longer be held over a barrel by the post office, thank you very much. There are ALTERNATIVES like carriers, email, etc. Grow up. You are not indispensable.

bikerborz
said

Talks break off, eh? Well, hard-headed as the Company might be, the Union just doesn't get it -- income is DROPPING, and they already have more than the avg working stiff, so how can they expect even more? CUPW should consult CAW to see how the real world works...

Montreal Marco
said

get back to work, you are lucky to have a job, who do you think you are demanding more money and benefits when your industry is going the way of the dinosaur, I suggest you start asking for less money before you are all out of jobs completely

arnold
said

Privatize!!!Check the European countries....30% savingsPostal union needs a reality check!!!

Phil
said

Anyone who thinks the purpose of a strike is to hurt the public is dumb. Comments like "strike? who cares? or didn't notice! or doesn't bother me", misses the point! A strike is NOT intended to hurt the public or make them notice. It is intended to hurt the COMPANY and it is hurting the company. Duh..... that's why it's done. And it's clear from the comments the public really has no clue what the fight is about or what the demands of the job are. If you all think it's so easy, why haven't you applied for a job? Honestly, I could care less what the ignorant public thinks of the job!

jafajack
said

If they want to strike let them go on strike and stay there forever.Then, privatize Canada Post and let the private sector provide workers who actually want the to work.Maybe then we wouldn't have such a totally screwed up postal system

Don K
said

@ Randy: I think you're missing the point.... The union is asking for job protection and a raise (among other things) so if there are only "5 pieces of mail instead of 12" these days, where is the money going to come from to make up the difference and ensure all postal workers have jobs and raises despite a decrease in revenue from the postal service? Downsizing hurts and cuts to staff aren't easy but the volume/demand for a service isn't there, why would anyone want to guarantee them a job and more money?

Glenn in Winnipeg
said

this will be the end of Canada Post and the Union. People will find other means of moving correspondence other than Canada Post. Huge miscalculation by the Union leaders. They should put the last offer from Canada Post out for a vote before they decide on a Nation wide strike.

Steve in Vancouver
said

l have seen this before. This is the death knell of the union in the face of new technology.

Don13
said

The blame for this strike lies squarely with the union leadership. As a former CUPW member and shop steward (now retired, thank God), I was involved in every CUPW-called strike from 1968 to 1990. I can honestly say that in most cases, the rank and file membership were more than willing to accept the negotiated settlements, yet the union leadership refused to allow the workers to vote on it. (Granted, there were a small number of die-hard union fanatics who supported striking, but they were definitely in the minority). I also can honestly say that I never fully recovered from the financial losses personally incurred as a result of these strike actions.Perhaps it is time to stop the wages of union leaders for the duration of the strike. should this happen, I'm sure a settlement could be reached in record time!Just my two cents worth.

Russ
said

A countrywide strike...now there's a novel idea. Perhaps you should have thought about that when your membership gave you the mandate to strike. If you're going to strike, then do it. Why beat around the bush with rotating ones that have little or no effect. At the end of the day, an arbitrator will be summons and your fate and those of your membership will rest in their hands and whatever decision is made, will be final. Unions and strikes are a waste of time.

Rev in VC
said

The national unemployment rate is around 7.6%. Maybe it's time to rotate out these greedy privileged self entitlement morons and give some of these down-on-your-luck folk some much needed work. Postal workers already have enviable benefits as it is. Heck I can't remember the last time our armed forces did a walk out, if ever. Hand delivering letters is going the way of the Dodo thanks to email, blackberries, texting, ect. Eventually the only things left to deliver by hand will be parcels and spam, so these greedy slackers should feel fortunate that their generation will still need postal workers.

FrankX
said

Postal workers must know that they are living in a new internet era and abundance of private parcel shipping companies. If the postal system is not competitive and reliable, mail and parcel volumes will drop and in the long run they will all loose their jobs. I am moving my postal business somewhere else and may never return. We spend about $1000 per month on postage and you just lost 1/4 postal worker!

John
said

Crush the union, hire others.

S LeBlanc
said

Perhaps people should get the full facts before giving their opinion on what this strike is actually about. Safety of its workers is a large part of it. Job cuts etc...easy to say that it is about money.

Mike
said

These postal workers should be happy that they even get a pension. Pretty much nobody in the private sector does. Give your head a shake. Their average salary is already nearly $50,000 for a letter carrier... which is a ZERO skill job. You walk and put letters in mailboxes. If it was up to me, disband Canada Post and hire Purolator/Fed Ex/UPS to deliver our mail.

Mandosa
said

If i was a UPS or Purolator, I'd be thinking how I could add a mail delivery option to my existing parcel delivery service, since these children known as CUPW will eventually run the existing service out of business and open it up for the first semi competent alternative.

Dean in Abby
said

I wonder if it's cheaper to collect mail here, sort it in China and re-distribute it here with private workers. Shut down CP and privatize it. Deliver once a week and be done with this expensive dinosaur.

Jim, Ontario
said

Time to switch the last of my bills to online reports. I say shut the whole pile of crap down and step into the 21st century. Good bye Canada Post.

Michael
said

I'm getting tired of this already. They have good perks if they do do a full strike, I say privatize C.P. and hire people that want to work. The unions are destroying too many jobs and they willl not come back.

Syl
said

If it is so easy for someone to hack into the PM's web site, why in the world would I want to do my banking, pay my bills etc. with the computer? I know I am not very computer savey and I prefer to trust the Post Office. I know they are no longer as reliable as they once were either, but in 76 years I have never had by mail 'hacked' or lost. The Post Office should be declared an essencial service and legislated back to work immeadiatly.

Northern Princess
said

Unfortunately, I for one and many others think that these strikers will strike themselves out of a job. As RJ in Halifax said is so true. Plus, I'm sure our soldiers would love your pays including overtime and you, Postal Workers, can take our soldiers' pays with NEVER any overtime. They'd think twice about striking if they had to do it for 6 months or less.

TomPatty
said

Greedy, greedy, greedy!!!

RJ in Halifax
said

Time to put union "demands" in perspective. Two people carry packs weighing over 50 pounds daily. They spend their entire day walking. One is currently wearing shorts and a light shirt. The other is dressed in desert camoflage, heavy boots and a helmet. The first watches his step for fear of stepping in dog poop, while the other watches for IED's. When "injured" on the job, the first gets to spend time recovering at home and then is eased back into the job. The other, if lucky, only loses both his legs and never really "recovers". For this, a CUPW member expects to get paid 50% more than the soldier on patrol. CUPW, it's time to take a reality check.

danielle taylor
said

Yes Mike ,they are still delivering mail to other cities that are on stiking on designated days.

danielle taylor
said

This rotating strike is going to accomplish absolutely nothing. If i had not heard on the news this is happening, I would not have noticed at all. Most everything comes through e-mail now so who cares? I go days without receiving any mail so ,to me,.... what strike?

Rich
said

Unions cause inflation.

Mir
said

It seems like some here do not understand how a union works. The management is on one side and the union is on the other. They do not work the the other. The union is the go-to for the employees and is the bargaining unit during contract talks.There may be less letter mail but now there are more packages going through the system due to the online shopping craze. The postal workers do a lot of heavy lifting and I can understand why they would like better short term injury benefits. It takes a LONG time to recover from a back injury. It only takes that one time to do something incorrectly and you'll be out of work for at least 6 weeks.I wish the workers well. In this economy I cannot forsee and wage increases, but it would be nice to see them have a bit of a better benefit package for them times when they may need it.

Robert B
said

So mail is being delayed due to rotating strikes, I guess instead of taking 5 days to go 30 miles it will now take 7???

TRM
said

It is not just a job it's an adventure. As in the military when you apply you know exactly what you are signing up for. Suck it up, Stand tall, and get back in line formation to work you lazy postal workers. Battle scars are common on the frontline it means you paid your dues. All the Postal Workers care about is a big fat pay cheque on the backs of each and every Canadian. The fact you are still receiving pay during your strike shows how weak you are, go home without pay and eat out of tuna cans for a couple of weeks or have the bank call about that missed payment on the house. What a waste of time and energy as our government really is a big fat joke when dealing with these situations. Where is a Ronald Regan in our government God Bless him there was the real deal he would have you all fired as of yesterday, and Canada Post would be a thing of the past by now.

B.J.
said

What postal strike, I really didnt know. So thats why I havent been getting garbage mail this week, cool. ! Keep striking, you have a well paid job but dont know it. Randy you are so wrong , what about the hydro , telephone, cable, police fire workers who have to work in all kinds of weather, do they not count when they have to go out when bad weather causes power outages etc. ?? Think again.

Gisabun
said

Are the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are dumb? Just dumb?Why? They are doing one day [for the most part] rotating strikes in an attempt to get Canada Post to settle with them.It ain't going to work. Here's why?On Monday, for example, the strikes decided not to do anything in Montreal - a major hub for distribution in Quebec.On Tuesday, they are back at work. So what happens? All that mail that wasn't sorted and delivered on Monday will now have to be delivered on Tuesday and possibly Wednesday.What would of been a better idea?Strike for the week in a major city. This would really cause a few tempers to fly.They could start with Ottawa [so the politicians can feel the heat] and then go to Toronah, Montreal and Vancouver.You think people in those cities would be happy without any mail for a week?Of course, don't let the CUPW see this message.I'm actually against them.

Ben
said

What is a postal worker - oh sorry I forgot - someone who doesn't know what a computer is.

Dean in Abby
said

Since Victoria is also known as "the city of the living dead", I doubt that anyone will notice. Shut down the entire system and see if anyone really cares. Greedy union people will soon be out of work due to the union greedy union MANAGEMENT wanting their outrageous salaries and PROFITS for the union. How ironic is that?

Randy
said

I support the postal workers... they do a job that most people could not handle. The physical strain on their bodies, not to mention the extreme weather conditions during all 4 seasons this country offers. A job that everyone working in temaperature controlled buildings just dont understand. Even the construction workers call it a day if it is to cold, wet, or windy. The fact that mail volume is decreasing does not matter... the working conditions are the same if they deliver 5 pieces of mail or 12 pieces.

Jon in London ON
said

Canada Post on strike? Really? I didn't notice.

NBD
said

The threat and any actions of a Postal Strike will only make people use other technologies to replace this service. The strike will reduce future use of the postal services.

Ian
said

Ad mail has no business being in with our normal mail. I am sure it provides substantial revenue to Canada Post, however I can say that in my case, it finds an express route to the recycling bin. If all these companies want to advertise, either put it in the newspapers, whether it be the large ones, or local editions or use local services to deliver them such as the routine flyers we receive weekly.Yes, this will cut down on the revenue, however it will also free up the time for the postal workers to deliver the mail they were hired for. This will also have a direct impact on overtime and part time workers, so it could actually be a win win, however the two sides need to get their heads out of the sand. It is a game of give and take and neither side really is interested in giving. I for one believe the workers get far tooooooooooo much for what they do and thousands of unemployed Canadians would be more than happy to take the jobs full time at a lower salary.

JMA
said

union employee should be given the right not to join picket lines because that is his or her right under federal law, Unions have no business telling Canada Post fire worker for refusing to join union because of his or her rights too. union should obey the boss about the pay and benefits and get to work but not go on strike to force their hands to getting what they wants. I understand that, they can walk off the job if there is serious safety issues.

Paul Whelan
said

Yes, the last I heard everything is being delivered. It could be delayed by 1-2 days if affected by strike location.

Paul
said

In all honesty, I am totally unaffected by this strike and does not inconvenience me in the least. Some will be, but I think for the most part, the majority of us are getting alone nicely without them. Mail volumes are down 11%, I suspect after this strike, that number will rise. With less volume, CPC may decide to do some downsizing of their own. Hey postie, is it really worth it? Do you want to see some of your brothers and sisters on the unemployment line?. Either way, CPC is going to win this one and your strike will have been an excersise in futility.

Mike
said

Are they still delivering mail in cities that are not affected by the rotating strikes?

Victim of unions
said

Silly and foolish act by the union. Did you know that it is illegal to fire someone for union activities including picket line violence and vandalism but the union can force an employer to fire someone who does not follow union dictates or who refuses to join the union. The union can also "fine" someone who disagrees with action taken by the union (extortion and theft by any other name). So remind me again, exactly what good does the union do anyone?

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