Printed Nov 30, 2024 • Final up to date 8 hours in the past • 4 minute learn
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A putting employee on the picket line on Nov. 15, 2024, on the Canada Submit facility on Riverside Drive in Ottawa. Picture by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA
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With the notable exception of social safety cheques, the one factor being collected in mailboxes throughout the nation lately is mud.
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Till the mud settles on the strike of 55,000 Canada Submit workers that started on Nov. 15, it’s a ready recreation because the busiest time of 12 months for letter and parcel visitors quick approaches.
Whereas the surge in e-commerce, e-mail and rival supply providers has battered and crushed Canada Submit — $748 million in losses in 2023 alone and $3 billion since 2018 — the strike continues to be creating chaos amid the vacation rush.
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Every part from the supply of old-school invoice funds to Christmas packages to the “I’ve been good” want lists that youngsters ship to Santa is at stake. Time is of the essence. The week after Black Friday is historically the busiest of the 12 months for Canada Submit, with two million parcels shipped every single day.
What’s the strike all about?
Staff walked off the job on Nov. 15.
They’re asking for a 22 per cent pay hike over the following 4 years, together with improved advantages and readability about points involving part-time workers.
Moreover, the union is anxious with how Canada Submit is selecting to cope with weekend parcel supply because it tries to maintain tempo with rivals that embrace FedEx and Amazon.
On the wage entrance, Canada Submit has countered by providing an 11 per cent bounce in pay.
Up to now, bridging the hole on the quite a few points has been a bridge too far. A particular mediator appointed by Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon left the negotiating desk Nov. 27 as a result of the perimeters weren’t shut on probably the most important points.
Canada Submit has confirmed it had laid off some full- and part-time workers in the course of the strike, arguing that the situations of their employment had modified because of the dispute. Union legal professionals have countered that the transfer represents an unfair labour apply.
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MacKinnon has stated that binding arbitration, an act that may pressure workers again to work, shouldn’t be an choice at this level.
That’s not going over nicely with enterprise leaders.
On Nov. 28, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce delivered a harshly worded letter to MacKinnon and Public Providers Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, demanding motion as a result of the postal strike was having a “considerable impact,” notably in rural and northern areas.
The letter, additionally signed by leaders of chamber of commerce leaders from throughout Canada, stated the dispute was having a “disproportionate impact” on small companies.
Chief among the many issues are supply-chain points.
What’s the historical past of Canada Submit work stoppages?
In 2018, postal employees staged a collection of rotating strikes throughout Canada lasting 31 days till the federal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau compelled them to return with back-to-work laws on the eve of the vacation season.
The federal government additionally delivered back-to-work laws following a 15-day strike by Canada Submit workers in November 1997.
A dispute in June 2011, involving rotating strikes and a Canada Submit lockout of workers, ended after 13 days.
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Putting Canada Submit employees picket close to the submit workplace on Wellington Street north of Commissioners Street in London on Monday November 18, 2024. (Derek Ruttan/The )
How a lot mail does Canada Submit ship?
The quantity has been declining since 2006, with roughly 2.2 billion letters delivered in 2023.
Canada Submit has additionally been crushed by the growth in Canadians utilizing different low-cost supply providers. By way of e-commerce, Canada Submit’s market share has dropped to 29 per cent from 62 per cent in 2019.
Ought to the strike go on for much longer, Canadians could have little selection however to make use of different carriers to ship their most valuable cargo to make sure supply earlier than Christmas.
The union for Purolator, a subsidiary of Canada Submit, has stated it received’t cope with mail that originated with the crown company. The corporate, nevertheless, has stated “we expect that our network and service will not be impacted.”
FedEx and Amazon have stated they received’t be adversely affected by the Canada Submit strike.
Many rural communities, nevertheless, have restricted entry to different supply providers.
What about social profit cheques?
Whereas common mail supply has stopped, exceptions with persevering with service embrace Outdated Age Safety, Canada Pension Plan and Canada Youngster Profit funds.
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“Canada Post and its bargaining agents have agreed to deliver specific social benefit cheques on a set date,” the Canadian Income Company web site says. “This means that during this disruption, only cheques for the CCB (Canada Child Benefit) and any related provincial and territorial programs, as well as the Alberta child and family benefit (ACFB), will be delivered.”
The manufacturing of all different profit, credit score and rebate cheques will proceed in the course of the strike and “cheques that cannot be delivered will be securely stored until the situation is resolved.”
Ought to the postal strike proceed, it will have an effect on funds to CRA, together with installments due on Dec. 15.
What about getting passports in time for vacation journey?
It’s not time for these ready for journey paperwork to be delivered. Except clients paid for decide up at ServiceCanada areas, passport supply will probably be delayed. These in pressing want of their new passports are requested to name 1-800-567-6868 or to go to ServiceCanada areas to have their recordsdata transferred to be picked up.
A file picture of a Canada Submit discover for youngsters desirous to ship pre-Christmas letters to Santa Claus. Picture by Canada Submit /HANDOUT
Can you continue to ship letters to Santa?
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Youngsters throughout the nation are ho-ho-holding their breath as a result of the 40-year custom of Canada Submit accepting after which sending again — oops, of Santa sending again — between 1.2 million and 1.5 million letters is in jeopardy.
Canada Submit initially set a Dec. 6 deadline to have the Expensive Santa want lists accomplished. If the strike ends in time, they’ve promised to push Santa into hurry-up writing mode.
After all, within the 12 months 2024, there are e-mail choices to get messages to the North Pole. They embrace EmailSanta.com, SantaChatter.com, TrueNorthPole.com and SantaOnline.internet.
Remember the fact that, in contrast to Santa, a return to regular enterprise received’t be completed in a single day.
Canada Submit cautions that, even when the strike ends, “it may take some time” for regular service to renew.
-KEN WARREN, OTTAWA CITIZEN
X: Citizenkwarren
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