Postal strike slowing some charities’ ability to help in Winnipeg 

The pinch of the postal strike is being felt across Canada and those supporting Winnipeg’s most vulnerable say with no end in sight, the halt in mail is slowing their ability to help in a big way.

“The impacts are tremendous,” said Darren Nodrick, director of development with Winnipeg’s Siloam Mission of the strike. 

“For us in particular, this time of year about 70 to 75 per cent of our donations for the whole year come in at this time.  And 70 to 75 per cent of those donations come through the mail.  So yeah, we’re really feeling the effects.”

He says until the strike is over, people can call or make a donation online, but it’s looking like it may be some time until envelopes are flying again. 

On Wednesday morning Canada’s Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon announced on X the mediator appointed to the negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) had suspended talks, as the two parties “remain too far apart on critical issues.” 

Minister MacKinnon says he hopes the pause will allow those at the table to take a second look at their positions and return to negotiations with “renewed resolve.” 

Union leaders in Winnipeg say they’re ready to get back to work if Canada Post brings forward a fair deal, calling for the national mail delivery service to “come to the table and be willing to bargain.”

“We’re all disappointed,” said Sean Tugby, president of CUPW Local 856 while on the picket line Wednesday.

“We have 55,000 postal workers who are losing a cheque before Christmas; who desperately want to work.  We’re looking for a conversation and to resolve a conflict right now.”

CUPW say it’s not budging on the demands it has brought forward, which includes a 24 percent wage increase over four years, safe-working conditions and pension plan protection.

“We’re not selling out the new people who come into Canada Post on the backs of ourselves,” said Tugby. 

On Wednesday, Canada Post explained in a statement it’s “considering its options to move negotiations forward” following the suspension of mediation, saying only “minor items” have been agreed upon, the union telling the mediator it won’t be responding to Canada Post’s most recent offer. 

“We remain committed to the bargaining process,” read the statement. 

“Throughout these negotiations, Canada Post has put forward detailed proposals to bring more flexibility to its outdated, mail-based delivery model. These changes are necessary to better compete in the parcel business, better serve Canadians, and drive much-needed revenue growth.”

 But it noted: “However, after not responding over the past several days, CUPW has just informed us, through the special mediator, that it will not be responding at all.” 

While it’s unclear when bargaining will resume, Minister MacKinnon said he’s asked both parties to meet with him and says as soon as “productive bargaining” can begin again, the special mediator will bring them back to the table. 

“Canadians are counting on them to create these conditions quickly,” MacKinnon wrote on X.