Rotating strikes are expected to hit Edmonton and Calgary tomorrow as the dispute between Canada Post and its unions continued.
Canada Post has cancelled shifts for casual staff and overtime for permanent carriers as the volume of mail dwindles.
Edmonton and Calgary were both expected to start 24-hour strikes after similar events in Hamilton, Montreal, Moncton and Victoria. The union has said a full strike is still a possibility.
Anick Losier, a spokesperson for the Crown corporation said they had to cut costs because people are avoiding the mail system while the strike remains a threat.
“Since they have declared their work action it has shaken consumer confidence so people are not sending their letters anymore. In the past week we have seen a 50 per cent decline in our plants.”
Losier said Canada Post believes there is no reason for a threatened strike or for the rolling strikes that are taking place, but it is having a significant impact on postal operations.
“What the union is doing is really making this company bleed,” she said. “We have had to contain costs during this difficult time and in doing so we have suspended all overtime.”
Bev Ray, president of the Edmonton chapter of the Canadian Association of Postal Employees, said the layoff of postal workers was arbitrary and unfair.
She also said despite the reduced volumes, it had led to mail going undelivered in the Edmonton area.
“There was a route in St. Albert that was down yesterday, because there was no one to staff it.”
Ray said the union picked Edmonton for Wednesday because of the issue of forced overtime that has been a problem locally. She said Canada Post has not filled positions or brought in enough relief carriers.
“They have not staffed to the required amounts, which has forced people to work longer into the night.”
Canada Post has rejected the union’s latest offer, but the two sides are still negotiating.
Losier said the union’s offer would have cost the corporation money when they are trying to lower labour costs.
She said they believe their offer is perfectly reasonable, noting it includes increases, job security and good benefits.
“We are a little bit scratching our heads about what is wrong with this offer because anyone else would love this offer.”
It is unclear whether rural areas around St. Albert will receive the Gazette in the event of a postal strike since the paper is delivered directly to post offices.
Copies will still be available through newspaper boxes. A map of locations is available at www.stalbertgazette.com under the Gazette drop-down menu and by clicking on Reader Services.
Newspaper delivery within St. Albert will not be affected.
