45,000 Postal Workers in Canada Strike

Canadian postal workers went on strike Wednesday, shutting down mail service across the country after weeks of fruitless contract bargaining.

The work stoppage by 45,000 postal workers came after dozens of wildcat strikes had already crippled Canada Post, the federal mail service.

“We are on strike because Canada Post has consistently engaged in bad faith bargaining . . . because Canada Post leaves us no other option,” said Darrell Tingley, president of Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

The strike, which starts immediately, takes place during the year’s busiest mailing season and threatens Canadian businesses. A postal strike in the mid-1980s, which lasted five weeks, cost businesses as much as $2.1 billion.

Tingley said he would return to the negotiating table, although the strike would go on “until we get a collective agreement.”

The strike is not expected to last long because the federal government can introduce back-to-work legislation declaring the postal service an essential one that can’t be disrupted.

The two sides had been close to an agreement before the strike, Tingley said, expressing hope that the walkout would force them to reach a deal.

Shortly after the strike was called, union and management representatives returned to the bargaining table to resume talks.

Labor Minister Lawrence MacAulay would not endorse government intervention forcing the postal workers back to work, saying instead he would wait to see how negotiations progress.

In the era of e-mail, faxes and courier services, the strike is not expected to have the same economic impact as others in the last 20 years.

But its timing at the start of the Christmas season is expected to hurt charities and mail-order companies.

The last disruption of postal services in Canada was in 1991, when the union called a series of rotating strikes.

Canada Post wants to restructure delivery routes as part of its five-year plan to save $140 million.

The union argues the cost-saving measures will lead to the elimination of 4,000 positions. It also says Canada Post is preparing to privatize the corporation.

The union originally was seeking a raise of 8.6% over 18 months, but has since said it is willing to settle for less.

The corporation has offered 3% over two years. Letter carriers and postal clerks earn a base salary of about $12.50 an hour.