Canada Post strike hits northern Ontario communities

More than 300 Canada Post workers are on strike in the Sudbury region. The union says the action follows two years of failed negotiations.

More than 300 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) are on strike in the northern Ontario communities of Greater Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island. The job action commenced Thursday night as part of nationwide labour disruptions after years of protracted union negotiations failed to yield a new collective agreement.

Employees were observed walking the picket line in front of the main Canada Post branch on Lasalle Boulevard in Greater Sudbury on Friday.

Protracted labour dispute

Charlene Bradley, the president of CUPW Local 612, clarified that this strike is a continuation of a long-standing labour dispute.

“These negotiations have been going on for about two years,” Bradley said.

“We were on the line in November till December for five weeks and this is basically a continuation of that strike. We’ve never stopped being on strike. We were it back to being legislated back to work under 107 and then we did an overtime ban as strike action to keep our strike alive.”

The current strike was officially triggered following an announcement by the federal government that Canada Post would eliminate door-to-door delivery over the next decade as a cost-cutting measure.

Union criticizes corporate direction

Bradley expressed strong criticism of Canada Post’s management and strategic decisions, questioning the corporation’s commitment to its public service mandate and its own employees.

“They’re getting money nonstop. They’ve cut their own services for two years now,” Bradley said.

“They’ve told people to go elsewhere, you know, use Purolator because that’s their sister company. They’ve told them to don’t put in anything in the mail. So anybody that cares about their company would try to increase services, not push services away.”

“At the end of the day, we’re just a number and it’s sad that they have negotiated through the public to cut our jobs and our services and services to the public,” Bradley added.

Government points to financial pressures

CTV News reached out to the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works, and Procurement for comment but did not receive a response by our Friday broadcast deadline.

However, in a previous interview with CTV News on Thursday, Minister Joël Lightbound outlined the government’s concerns regarding Canada Post’s financial viability.

“I think the bottom line for me as a minister responsible for Canada Post is I see a corporation that offers an essential service to Canadians that Canadians care about, that provides a lifeline to rural, remote indigenous communities across the country,” Lightbound said.

“But that has been losing money. You know, left, right, and center over the last five years.”

Postal workers appeal for public support

Amid the ongoing dispute, one postal worker, who wished to remain anonymous, stressed the employees’ desire for a fair resolution and called for public understanding.

“At the end of the day, we just want to work and be able to support ourselves,” the worker said.

“We need the support of the public to do that because they’re attacking their services as well.”

The strike continues as negotiations between the union and the crown corporation remain at an impasse.