‘It will make life a little easier’: Edmonton postal union workers prepare for rotating strikes

Members of Canada's largest postal worker union will end a nationwide walkout and start rotating strikes. Edmonton members say it'll ease the financial burden.

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) in Edmonton picketed at the city’s Canada Post processing plant on Friday ahead of news that local branches will shift to rotating work stoppages by Saturday morning.

CUPW announced late Thursday night it would begin rotating local branches in and out of service.

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Mail and parcels, which were delayed by the countrywide strike that began Sept. 25, would start moving again with on-and-off strikes.

The president of CUPW Local 730, Edmonton’s branch of postal workers, told CTV News Edmonton the transition into rotating strikes is welcome.

“It will make life a little easier for the members of the union,” James Ball said on Friday.

“Financially, it’s been quite a burden on our members. This will alleviate some of that burden, assuming the employer unlocks the doors on Saturday morning.”

Ball said both Canada Post and its union members have sacrificed money, referencing the corporation’s line that the service is losing $10 million a day.

“The difference is an individual company or the 55,000 members of the union who are taking that loss,” he said.

“It’s turned into a situation where we’re literally fighting for our jobs and we’re fighting for the services for Canadians … the corporation, the government, don’t seem to be interested in that.”

CUPW’s national president has said the union plans to meet with the minister in charge of Canada Post next week.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Kenny