Edmontonians face mail disruptions as local postal workers walk off the job | CBC News

Canada Post workers in Edmonton were walking picket lines Friday after the start of a nationwide strike.

With mailboxes expected to remain empty and Canada Post’s red and blue postal vans sitting idle, Edmontonians who rely on the postal service are being told to brace for delays.

Days after negotiations broke down, about 55,000 workers across the country walked off the job Friday, signalling major disruptions for mail service ahead of the busy holiday season.

In Edmonton, thousands of members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) were told to walk at midnight and report for the picket line by morning. 

CUPW 730, which covers Edmonton and much of northern Alberta, represents around 2,700 members.

In an interview Friday afternoon from one of three picket lines established across the city, James Ball, interim president of the union local, said members are just asking for a fair deal. 

He said many workers are struggling to survive on current wages.

“We want to deliver Christmas,” Ball said. “That’s all we really want to do. But when the people delivering your mail can’t afford Christmas, it’s very difficult.”

Deliveries stopped

Mail and parcels will not be delivered for the duration of the strike, and some post offices will be closed.

Canada Post delivered close to 300 million parcels last year. The service delivers close to 1.3 million parcels each day during the peak holiday season.

In a statement Friday, officials with the City of Edmonton warned of the impact on a number of city services. Edmontonions are encouraged to access online or in-person services where possible. 

Approved business licences and renewal letters will not be mailed out until the strike is over.

City traffic tickets must be paid online. Automated enforcement tickets for infractions during the strike will be issued once mail service resumes.

The city cautioned there may be longer than usual wait times at the Edmonton Service Centre due to increased in-person needs. The service centre is on the second floor of Edmonton Tower, at 10111 104th Ave.

Edmontonians are encouraged to use the drop box at the service centre’s mail and lost and found counter to drop off forms and payment by cheque.

More information on the strike’s impact on city services can be found here.

Wages, working conditions at issue

The labour dispute centres on the union’s call for improved wages, safer working conditions and other improvements to benefits and weekend delivery routes. 

The union issued 72-hour strike notice earlier in the week, saying its demands have not been met over nearly a year of bargaining. 

Canada Post served the union with the lockout notice not long after but had said it didn’t intend to lock workers out. 

Ahead of the strike deadline, federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he formally appointed the director general of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services as a special mediator to help in the talks.

The union is demanding wage increases in line with inflation — cost-of-living adjustment payments to be rolled into the basic wage rate which would result in a compounded wage increase of 24 per cent over four years.

Canada Post has offered an 11.5-per-cent wage increase over four years, with a five per cent increase in the first year of a new collective agreement. Mail carriers make around $30 an hour. 

“Ultimately we’re looking for respect,” Ball said. “But there’s many sticking points.” 

Ball said he hopes the labour dispute is resolved quickly but said the Crown corporation must take negotiations more seriously. 

He said Canada Post’s previous offers have been “dismal” and have done little to meet the demands of union members.

WATCH | Postal strike hits during holiday day: 

“We’re always hoping for a negotiated contract and we’d love to be back at work doing our jobs instead of being out here on the picket line,” Ball said. 

“That’s as much Canada Post’s decision as it is mine or any of our members,” he said.

“If they come to the table with a serious offer, we could be back to work tomorrow. We can hope for that.” 

Province activates contingency mail plan

The Alberta government said Friday that it is taking steps to “ensure critical mail between Albertans and the government continues to flow.”

Starting Tuesday,  Albertans can bring critical mail intended for the government to designated provincial offices. No stamps are required. The full list of designated buildings is available on Alberta.ca.

“Critical mail is material that must reach its intended recipient to avoid health, safety, financial or other significant harm to Albertans, significant risk or loss to government, or legislative non-compliance and that cannot be delivered expediently by courier, fax, electronic or other means,” the province said in a news release.

Albertans who receive mail from the provincial government will receive a notification by email or phone telling them where and when they can pick up or drop off their mail.

Non-critical mail will be held by the originating department until Canada Post mail service resumes, the province said.

Some government departments are participating in a Canada Post program to deliver benefit cheques once a month during the disruption, though the province notes many departments also offer direct deposit.