Update: Nov. 19, 3 p.m.
Brent Currie, president of CUPW Local 840, told Coast Reporter that local carriers will come off the picket line temporarily tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 20, in order to deliver essential mail.
"We're hopeful that the newly appointed special mediator can resolve many of the issues concerning wages, pensions and working conditions," he said in an email. "Our members from the CUPW Local 840 want to thank all the Sunshine Coast residents for their ongoing support during these difficult negotiations."
Canada Post workers across Canada officially went on strike Nov. 15., including Rural Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC), some who began picketing outside of the post office in Sechelt Friday.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, issued a 72-hour strike notice Tuesday after failing to reach an agreement with Canada Post over wages and safer working conditions after about one year of bargaining.
Update from CUPW
On day four of the nationwide strike, CUPW negotiators met for the first time with the new mediator sent by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), along with one other who has been working with the parties since August.
Rather than meeting CUPW and Canada Post together, the mediators held separate discussions with each party. They moved between the parties’ rooms, relaying issues and working to find some common ground.
The parties focused on a number of outstanding issues related to the RSMC bargaining unit. After 12 months of discussions, the employer finally began to move on the pressing issues. Resolving these issues could pave the way to agreements — the more individual issues are resolved the better.
Among other demands, the rural mail carriers want job security rights in line with the Urban agreement, corporate vehicles (at this time most use their own vehicles), coverage of all absences, and increased wages and gas allowance.
On Nov. 14, Canada Post, a Crown corporation owned by the federal government, issued a statement that said, "Canada Post will continue delivering and make every effort to minimize service disruptions. However, customers should be prepared for possible delays in the processing and delivery of mail and parcels."
The next morning, Canada Post issued the following statement:
"Canada Post’s operations will shut down during a national strike, affecting millions of Canadians and businesses across the country … Customers will experience delays due to the strike activity. Mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered for the duration of the national strike, and some post offices will be closed.
"Service guarantees will be impacted for items already in the postal network. No new items will be accepted until the national disruption is over. Items will be delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume."
According to Canada Post, vital mail such as Social Security and Old Age Pension cheques, will still be delivered.
This article will continue to be updated as more news comes in.
With files from The Squamish Chief.
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