Canada Post Resumes Mail Delivery

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

Canada Post has announced that mail and parcel delivery will resume shortly. This decision was publicly shared late Thursday evening, amidst ongoing rotating strikes by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) set to begin at 6 AM local time. While this measure aims to restore mail services, CUPW emphasizes that their fight for improved collective agreements continues.

Impact and Response from Canada Post

Jan Simpson, the national president of CUPW, stated, “This measure will allow processing and delivery to resume for mail and parcels while we maintain our struggle for fair contracts and a robust public postal service.” However, despite this announcement, Canada Post warned that the uncertainties linked to the rotating strikes would still negatively impact service quality.

Canada Post has expressed concerns about its ability to maintain reliable service during the strikes.
All service guarantees remain suspended due to the disruptions.
Mail delivery is expected to return to normal operations next week.

Concerns from Small Businesses

Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, remarked on the uncertainty surrounding postal services. He indicated that while the resumption is positive, ongoing strikes could lead to delays and customer frustrations. Kelly urged the government to intervene and expedite reforms that had been announced earlier.

Context of the Strikes

The CUPW initiated a national strike on September 25, just after the federal government revealed significant operational changes to Canada Post. These changes included the potential end of home delivery for most Canadians and the lifting of a moratorium on converting to community mailboxes. This shift could save nearly $400 million annually by affecting around four million addresses still receiving home delivery.

The government also lifted restrictions on closing rural post offices that had been in place since 1994, affecting approximately 4,000 locations.
Non-urgent mail is now being transported by ground instead of air, reflecting declining delivery volumes.

Government Involvement

Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Joël Lightbound, expressed encouragement regarding the resumption of services. He acknowledged the importance of mail delivery to Canadians. Lightbound had met with CUPW before the announcement, during which the union voiced concerns about the government’s restructuring plans for Canada Post.

Simpson reiterated that the union could not remain passive while the government rolled out a plan to dismantle postal services and eliminate thousands of jobs. She noted that CUPW planned to meet with Lightbound’s office again in the upcoming week.

Next Steps for Canada Post and CUPW

Canada Post indicated that CUPW has yet to respond to their offer made on October 3. Federal mediators are available to assist in reaching an agreement. According to Jennifer Kozelj, spokesperson for Employment Minister Patty Hajdu, both CUPW and Canada Post need to find common ground to protect jobs and the future of Canada’s national postal service.

Overall, while mail delivery is set to resume, both the union and Canada Post are facing challenges that could impact service reliability in the near future.