Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid backlog

The labour dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers is intensifying. 

Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.

Purolator said in an email that severe weather and a surge in package volumes prompted it to freeze service for some partners, citing the need to “prioritize critical shipments.”

Some employees of Purolator were slow to get to work on Friday as members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers set up a partial blockade at a Wellington Avenue location as part of an ongoing labour dispute between the union and Canada Post. 

Reggie Taman, health and safety officer with the CUPW Local 856 says its members were trying to educate Purolator employees that Canada Post and the company share board members, like Doug Ettinger who he claims are willing to attack workers’ rights. 

“Canada Post is not coming to the table,” he said. “We have 55,000 members across this country and we’ve been out for four weeks. Four weeks without pay, four weeks without benefits.” 

He says as a sign of good faith, Canada Post should reinstate those benefits which include critical medications and treatments. 

Right now, postal workers have questions as to where their work is going, and they’re asking if it’s going to Purolaotor, with those on the picket line energized, but frustrated negotiations have stalled. 

Taman himself held a number of posters that ask: “Is Canada Post using Purolator to hide money and break CUPW’s strike?” some CUPW members blocking select trucks and employees in response on Friday morning. 

“We’ve heard stories across the country where product is being moved and members are concerned. This is our work,” he said. “This is taking off our table.”

On Friday, a statement from Purolator said it was aware of the members picketing its location, and stressed that while they respect the right of “workers to engage in legal and peaceful protest” the company’s focus is on making sure operations run smoothly. 

Asked about people who are saying if Canada Post isn’t going to pick up demand, they’re going to use private companies like Purolator, Taman said it’s Canada Post that’s refusing to come back to the bargaining table and members are ready to get back to work. 

“The members want a good contract. We’re sacrificing a lot,” he said, saying he empathizes with everyone affected. “People are angry. People are scared. There’s a lot of emotion here, but what needs to happen is Canada Post needs to come to the table and give us a fair deal.” 

Officials with Canada Post say the efforts by union members to block workers are unwarranted. 

“CUPW has continued their strike action, shutting down the postal system and impacting employees and countless businesses and charities,” said Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton.  

“Purolator is run independently from Canada Post. Any action to stop delivery trucks is not only misguided, it is impacting more customers beyond those already impacted by CUPW’s strike.”

Couriers such as eShipper, which act as middlemen between smaller e-commerce businesses and large carriers, are among the companies temporarily barred from shipping with Purolator and UPS.

A notice sent from eShipper to clients and obtained by The Canadian Press says “no shipments will be processed or moved by these carriers” for 48 hours, starting Wednesday.

Montreal-based cookie maker Félix & Norton’s chief operating officer Simon Paquin says the cargo halt and broader postal strike fallout could cost the company its “whole holiday season.”

Canada Post said Thursday it was reviewing new counter-proposals submitted by the union representing more than 55,000 postal employees, who walked off the job three weeks ago.

-With files from The Canadian Press