Canada Post strike: Quebec rolls out cheque delivery operation in case of walkout

Canada Post and CUPW still at odds as overtime ban continues without a deal.

With negotiations between Canada Post and its union members still ongoing, the Quebec government announced on Monday that it is deploying a cheque delivery operation in its Services Québec offices.

The cheques, according to Noovo Info, will be issued to people receiving benefits from the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), Crime Victims Compensation (IVAC), the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity, including the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration and the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).

• READ MORE: Canada Post, union expected to resume talks in a few days as overtime ban continues

The Quebec government says the cheques will be issued gradually, starting this Thursday, and will be delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Revenu Québec and Retraite Québec cheques will not be distributed at Services Québec offices.

If an agreement is reached between the parties, they will be delivered as per usual by Canada Post.

“All people registered for direct deposit will automatically receive the amounts to which they are entitled on the usual dates,” the government notes. “All claimants who are not registered for direct deposit are invited to do so.”

Social benefit cheques from the Government of Canada will also not be delivered to Services Québec offices.

Cheques to be collected at Services Québec:

Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)

• Reimbursement of expenses
• Personal injury
• Compensation for victims of crime
• Permanent partial compensation
• Income replacement indemnity

Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity

• Social assistance program (monthly)
• Social assistance program (adjustments and new applications)
• Social solidarity program (monthly)
• Social solidarity program (adjustments and new applications)
• Employment objective program (monthly)
• Employment objective program (adjustments and new applications)
• Basic income program (monthly)
• Basic income program (adjustments and new applications)
• Financial support for pregnant minors program (monthly)
• Financial support for pregnant minors program (adjustments and new applications)
• Specific assistance program for Ukrainians
• Specific assistance program for Ukrainians (adjustments and new applications)
• Special benefits for social assistance recipients
• Employment assistance and additional expenses allowance
• Allowance for participation in the employment objective program
• Benefit under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP)

Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration

• Financial assistance program for skills recognition - allowance
• Quebec program for French language learning - allowance for a full-time French course

Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)

• Death benefit
• Lump-sum death benefit
• Personal assistance at home
• Income replacement benefit
• Compensation for after-effects
• Child care expenses

Cheques to be delivered at home:

Retraite Québec

• Public sector pension plans
• Family allowance
• Quebec Pension Plan

Revenu Québec

• Alimony
• Housing benefit
• Solidarity tax credit

To find out when to pick up your cheques, visit the Quebec government’s page on the Canada Post strike, and to find out where to pick up your cheques, go to Quebec.ca.

Negotiations ongoing

Negotiations between Canada Post and its unions are expected to resume in the next few days, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced on Sunday, following a meeting between the two parties.

The CUPW says its negotiators have “worked hard to carefully evaluate” Canada Post’s latest offer.

• READ MORE: Canada Post says it will respond in ‘short order’ as job action underway by 55,000 workers

Canada Post presented its latest offers to the union last Wednesday, which included wage increases and plans to add a fleet of part-time workers.

As negotiations continue, the national overtime ban on Canada Post union members remains in effect.