Northern postal workers walk off the job during lockout by Canada Post

Northern Ont. postal workers walk the picket line About 700 Canada Post workers are walking the picket lines in communities across northeastern Ontario.

About 700 Canada Post workers are walking the picket lines in communities across northeastern Ontario.

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 612 in Sudbury got a pep talk from their president Friday morning on Day 1 of the work stoppage.

"The members, at this point in time, are prepared to do what they need to do to get a fair collective agreement for our workers today, our workers of the future, and to make sure that we can retire with a pension that supports us," said Charlene Bradley.

Local 612 represents about 300 workers in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin.

The union said the corporation’s lockout notice left them no choice but to go with an outright walkout instead of rotating strikes, which is what happened in 2018.

"We would rather be out delivering the mail, delivering the parcels," Bradley said.

Negotiations stalled over several key issues including wages, pensions and health and safety. The union is also fighting for improved rights for casual or temporary workers.

The 128 members of Local 576 in North Bay want a safer work environment, especially for letter carriers who now have more work due to a separate sort and delivery system.

"Some of these people are walking 20 to 25 kilometres a day and they're starting later on in the day. So, they're working in the dark at night, which health and safety wise is not a good thing," said president Cara-Lee Lyttle.

"So, it's one of those things where that needs to go. Canada Post can’t be allowed to just push it through anymore."

Both Bradley and Lyttle spoke of the importance of the Rural Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC).

Go the extra mile

"We’re the members that go that extra mile, we’re the ones that take that parcel to the last destination," Bradley said, calling for the carriers to be paid more and be supplied with corporate fleet vehicles.

Lyttle said Local 576 has 10 RSMC routes just outside of North Bay and another 15 offices with RSMCs in those, as far west as Warren, north to Temagami, east to Mattawa and south to South River/Sunridge.

She said there are picket locations in North Bay, Sturgeon Falls, Powassan, Callander and Bonfield.

Canada Post has said it wants a more flexible and affordable postal system to compete in the delivery market.

"To help secure the future of the company and grow our parcel business, Canada Post has put forward proposals to offer seven-day-a-week parcel delivery, more competitive pricing and other important improvements. This new delivery model is essential for the future of the company and critical to our ability to afford the offers," the corporation said in a statement.

Several northern businesses CTV News spoke with say they’ve had to find more expensive delivery alternatives to Canada Post to get goods to customers while the dispute is ongoing. They are hopeful for a quick resolution.

"I really hope that Canada Post means what they say, gets to the bargaining table, negotiates a fair collective agreement for both bargaining units, and let's get Christmas going," Bradley said.

Canada Post said mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered during the strike.