Canada Post strike halts mail, parcel deliveries across the country

Canada Post workers are on strike after failing to reach a negotiated agreement with their employer.

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The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says approximately 55,000 workers are striking, claiming little progress has been made in the bargaining process.

At 12:01 a.m. Friday in Calgary, Canada Post workers were already on the picket line at the mail processing plant in the northeast.

In Calgary, there are about 2,000 Canada Post workers.

"I will be going in with the rest of my executive to bring them out collectively. We walk out in solidarity one minute after midnight," said Wycliffe Odour, Calgary Local president.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier in the week, saying it's been asking for fair wages, safer working conditions and other improvements over nearly a year of bargaining.

Small businesses 'very reliant' on Canada Post

Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce says small businesses in the city will be hit hard by the postal strike.

"They use Canada Post to send their goods all over the world – within the city, within the province (and) across the country," she told CTV News on Friday.

"A lot of people use this time of year for marketing campaigns."

Yedlin said she doesn't have exact figures on how deep the impact would be on small businesses, but she knows they are "very reliant" on the agency to conduct their operations.

"This is a way to grow their business, deliver their goods to their customers and, for the most part, Canada Post is very reliable.

"They've built their business plans around being able to use them to get their goods to market."

Yedlin said not-for-profits will also be impacted by the postal strike and the potential backlog of undelivered mail and parcels.

"Everybody looks to this time of year for donations."

Donations for local charities are more important than ever for local charities such as The Mustard Seed.

Director of governmental relations Byron Bradley says donations are often received through Canada Post and different methods of donating are suggested in the interim.

“The postal disruption will greatly impact the ability for the mustard seed to receive donations,” he said.

“It's going to create some challenges for us, definitely, and we want to be able to still continue to care for our vulnerable neighbors, and so people can still make a difference this holiday season by donating securely online on our website or in person.”

'Anxiety for my customers': Jess Paper Co.

One of those businesses immediately feeling the pinch of the Canada Post strike is Jess Paper Company.

Owner Jess Capeling says her local operation specializes in handcrafting several stationary products, with 80 per cent of the business relying on Canada Post deliveries.

“This is going to play a massive impact on my business and after hearing the news this morning, I had a bit of anxiety and it’s creating anxiety for my customers,” said Capeling.

“I rely heavily on the system because they do flat rate mail, and all of my stuff is really flat, so it fits right into the box, which is great and makes it affordable for my customers and myself. So, with this, strike it makes it harder for us to kind of keep going and know what the delivery times are going to be.”

Capeling adds that she may have to take the letter mail option out of her website, which could create a massive decline in sales.

Thankfully her business has a booth set up at this weekend’s Spruce Meadows Christmas Market and she’s calling on Calgarians to do their very best to support local during the holiday season.

“I would really recommend coming down to the local market and supporting your local businesses, we’re all here just trying to do the very best we can this season.”

A Canada Post mailbox is seen in this undated photo.

City of Calgary addresses postal disruptions

The City of Calgary has announced it will assist Calgarians and ensure the continuity of customer service and business operations during the disruption in postal service.

The city says its will be working with an external courier service and will maintain deliveries of critical materials to Calgarians and businesses.

“We’re committed to ensuring Calgarians continue to receive the same level of service they are used to from The City of Calgary during the mail service disruption,” said Karl von Engelbrechten, manager of information technology.

Calgarians, businesses and contractors can also access and pay for most city services online that do not require subsequent mailing or products.

Business services include registering a business or applying for business licences and related permits, which can be done on calgary.ca/mybusiness.

Public services include paying a parking ticket, requesting a TIPP application or renewing a pet licence. A full list of available services can be found at programs and services.

Calgarians can also apply and pay for home improvement project permits on calgary.ca/myhome.

Payments for utility bills (ENMAX, water services and waste & recycling services), animal licences, property and business taxes and corporate invoices can be made at most banks and financial institutions in person, through the bank’s online or telephone banking systems or online at enmax.com for ENMAX bills, depending on method of payment.

Payments of city fees can also be made at the City of Calgary's municipal building, 800 Macleod Tr. S.E. in the following ways:

• In person, at a cashier on the third floor from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (cash, cheque or Interac only);
• Dropped off at the city’s “drop box” on the third floor, available 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays;
• Placed in the 24-hour payment depository in the outside wall of the municipal building on Third Street S.E.; and
• Delivered by courier – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, at the Tax Customer Service Centre, third floor, Calgary municipal building only.

'Significant and immediate impact': Canada Post

Canada Post served the union with the lockout notice not long after but had said it didn't intend to lock workers out.

The Crown corporation released a statement early Friday morning confirming that customers will experience delays as a result of the strike.

The statement says mail and parcels will not be delivered for the duration of the strike, and some post offices will be closed.

"This decision will have a significant and immediate impact on millions of Canadians, small businesses and charities who count on Canada Post during the busy holiday season. As well, a national strike by CUPW means service to remote and Northern regions that rely on Canada Post is shut down," the statement said.

"Understanding the importance of the service we provide, Canada Post had informed the union, and our customers, that we would continue operating and maintain service in the event of rotating strikes while discussions continue. We are committed to remaining at the table to negotiate new collective agreements."

Canada Post says shutting down facilities will affect its national network, with processing and delivery of mail possibly needing time to return to normal once the strike is over.

With files from Camilla Di Giuseppe and the Canadian Press