Small businesses call for quick end to rotating strikes at Canada Post

Terry Pedwell, The Canadian Press</span>
Published Monday, October 22, 2018 11:49AM EDT
Last Updated Monday, October 22, 2018 5:10PM EDT

OTTAWA -- Small businesses called for a speedy end to rotating walkouts launched Monday in four cities by Canada Post employees, citing concern that a prolonged strike could chew into their profits ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business also urged the post office to rein in spending to reduce costs and warned postal workers that continued job action could hurt them and their employer.

"While a rotating strike may be less harmful than a general strike, it creates additional uncertainty for businesses at a critical time for many small firms," CFIB president Dan Kelly said Monday in a statement.

"The bad news for Canada Post workers is that every time they even threaten a strike, more small business customers move to use alternatives, many never returning to Canada Post."

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which represents 50,000 postal employees, launched rotating demonstrations in Victoria, Edmonton, Windsor, Ont., and Halifax to pressure Canada Post into accepting contract changes.

The two sides have been bargaining separate contracts for rural and urban carriers, without success, over the past 10 months but there has been little progress in resolving critical issues, said CUPW national president Mike Palecek.

"In fact they're proposing to increase precarious work with more temporary workers," Palecek said in an interview.

The union is also asking for gender equality language to be incorporated in any new deal and want an end to forced overtime.

Canada Post said Monday it is committed to bargaining new collective agreements for its unionized employees, noting it has put forward "a significant offer" that includes wage increases, job security and improved benefits.

The Crown corporation also said its proposals did not contain demands for concessions.

Small businesses reliant on the agency for deliveries of goods and invoices, and for receiving payments, have already been harmed by ever-increasing costs for Canada Post services, and should not be expected to pay more, Kelly said.

"It's time for Canada Post to bring its spending under control instead of handing growing costs on to consumers and businesses who are already facing postal rate hikes in January," he said.

"We're looking to both sides to be reasonable and come to a quick compromise."

While many Canadians have found other ways to deliver letters and pay bills, over half of small businesses still pay each other by paper cheques sent through the mail, the CFIB said Monday, noting that almost two-thirds of firms reported sending more than 20 pieces of mail per month.

Many small companies also rely on Canada Post to deliver advertising flyers.

The CFIB recommended its members switch to using e-transfers to send and receive payments, and to consider using alternative shipping services to move their products.

While mail and parcels would not be picked up or delivered where 24-hour walkouts were taking place, regular service was still being offered at all other locations, said Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton.

In Edmonton, local CUPW president Nancy Dodsworth said Canada Post was respecting the sometimes noisy picket lines.

"There's nothing moving in Edmonton at all," she said.

"All the trucks have been waved off and they've been respecting our lines -- much appreciated."

Federal Labour Minister Patty Hajdu said Monday she was monitoring the situation but gave no indication the Trudeau government would intervene to end the strikes expected to continue on Tuesday.

Both sides should remain at the bargaining table until a settlement is reached, Hajdu said.

"We always have back to work legislation in our tool box, (but) we're not anticipating using that in the near future."

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