Postal workers on the Coast were busy sealing up mailboxes June 15 as Canada Post Corporation (CPC) initiated a lockout that effectively halts all mail service in Canada for an undisclosed amount of time.
"We believe that a lockout is the best way to bring a timely resolution to this impasse and force the union to seriously consider proposals that address the declining mail volumes and the $3.2 billion pension deficit," said a press release from CPC.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) responded to the lockout Wednesday by calling for an immediate meeting with Canada Post's CEO Deepak Chopra to reinstate their contract so they can return to work and continue negotiating. They also demanded "a new mandate" for CPC negotiators.
"Until now their only mandate has been to say 'no' to our proposals such as health and safety solutions, and make demands for major concessions on issues such as sick leave and lower wages for new workers," said CUPW national president Denis Lemelin.
Chopra said he was willing to meet to discuss the "fair offer that has been tabled by the company."
"Mr. Chopra expects that Mr. Lemelin will come to the meeting with a meaningful offer that addresses declining mail volumes, competitiveness, and a $3.2 billion solvency deficit in the pension plan," said a CPC press release.
While it didn't seem the two sides were any closer to reaching an agreement as of Coast Reporter's press time Thursday, Sunshine Coast residents were visibly upset with the lockout decision.
Customers clutching parcels and stacks of letters stormed out of post offices when told their mail could not be accepted. Post offices in Sechelt and Gibsons were open with rural workers inside only able to sell stamps or money orders.
Although locals were assured that rotating urban strikes would not affect rural postal workers, the lockout move has halted service on the Coast.
"We're delivering whatever we had in the post office today (June 15), but no new mail is coming in and we are closing the outgoing mail boxes on route," said local CUPW president Charlene Penner.
Despite the closure of mailboxes, rural postal workers expect to continue working as they are unaffected by CPC's decision to close all post offices staffed by urban CUPW members.
But with no mail coming in and no mail to deliver, Penner admitted she was unsure what personnel would be doing.
"As far as we know, we will be going to work. We have not been told what we'll be doing once we get there, but neither have we been told not to show up at work. Initially, when the whole thing first started, Canada Post said they did not plan to lay off rural workers," Penner noted.
On its website, CPC assures that rural post offices will remain open, but they cannot accept new mail until the lockout is over. The corporation gave no indication when that might be, and CPC spokespeople did not return Coast Reporter's phone calls by press time.
If the lockout continues past the weekend, CPC has agreed to allow delivery of government cheques on June 20. They encourage people to visit www.canadapost.ca/cheques for more information.
The federal government could also intervene with back to work legislation if the strike is not settled over the weekend.
For up to date information on the lockout and negotiations between CPC and the CUPW, visit their websites at www.infopost.ca/customer and www.cupw.ca.
