Canada Post workers are currently on strike but it is on a rotating basis with mail plants in bigger centres being affected.
As of Monday, postal workers in Winnipeg, Man., Hamilton, Ont. and Montreal, Que. were the only ones walking off the job and for the time being, it will be business as usual at Grand Forks’ post office.
The mail strike has struck a chord amongst people, not only in the Kootenay region but the province in general, as stories about Canada Post from the Gazette have seen a lot of web traffic.
There are a number of issues that are at play during this dispute.
According to local Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) representatives, the union is asking for things to stay the same and says that Canada Post is trying to cut back on benefits and sick leave and as well, introduce a payment system that will pay new hires less money.
They say that Canada Post is making more money than ever before and is not suffering through financial hardship.
On the other side, spokespeople for Canada Post say that what CUPW is asking for doesn’t take into account the challenges that Canada Post faces today, including a drop in letter mail deliveries.
Eventually, Canada Post could lock workers out or there could be a general strike by the union and in that case, mail operations would cease altogether with the exception of pension and social assistance cheque delivery and that would inconvenience many in Grand Forks.
The message boards on the Gazette’s website are seeing a lot of comments as well and it has been a polarizing topic to say the least.
The usual comments both pro and con are being posted with some supporters and workers talking of the virtues of postal workers while some are voicing opposition to the demands of the CUPW.
Whether you are pro or anti-union or whether you agree or disagree with either the postal workers or Canada Post, workers have the right to strike and expressing disdain towards workers for doing what they have the right to do really isn’t fair.
People might say that some postal workers are too generously compensated and they may not agree with the demands of the union and its workers but CUPW has the right to bargain with Canada Post.
It also has the right to strike.