After a year of negotiations failed to produce an agreement, Canada Post workers are striking –– and despite post offices remaining open on Salt Spring for now, the effects of halted mail flow will likely be felt almost immediately.
Some 55,000 postal workers represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) went on strike across the country just after midnight Friday, Nov. 15, comprising workers in its urban, rural and suburban mail carrier bargaining units.
Post office workers are part of a different bargaining unit from carriers; at Fulford, postmaster Andrea LeBorgne confirmed the front counters there would be open to customers, and Ganges postmaster Heather Adshead said people should feel welcome to come pick up their packages, despite the halt of service.
“We’re at the counter, and handing out parcels,” said LeBorgne Friday morning. “Our doors are open, so people can come down to pick up parcels that are here.”
CUPW members are asking for “reasonable fair wages, safe working conditions, the right to retire with dignity, and the expansion of services at the public post office,” according to an early-morning statement from the union.
Canada Post in its statement said no new items would be accepted at post offices, and customers should expect delays as mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered for the duration of the strike.
Gulf Islands Driftwood publisher Nancy Johnson said if the strike continues, subscribers should stop by after 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 to pick up their copies in person at their office at 241 Fulford-Ganges Road.
The free Extra edition and its flyers would be available there as well, with additional copies of the Extra to be available at Country Grocer, Thrifty’s, Salt Spring Coffee, TJ Beans, Switchboard Cafe, Rock Salt Restaurant, Salt Spring Mercantile, Windsor Plywood, Mouat’s Trading, Canco Gas, Mid Isle Coop Gas, Pharmasave, Embe Bakery, Barb’s Buns and at ferry terminals.
This story is developing.