Drivers licences, donations and courier demand: Impacts of the ongoing postal strike

Many people are feeling strained as the Canada Post workers strike approaches four weeks, impacting charity donations, courier businesses and services received by mail.

Unison provides a free food market, recreation programs and housing supports to Calgary seniors.

Many of the non-profit's donors are seniors, too, who prefer to give a cheque in the mail.

"Organizations that serve seniors are probably doubly affected by the strike, so we're fairly nervous," said Larry Mathieson, president and CEO of Unison at Kerby Centre.

Its holiday mail-out campaign usually brings in a quarter of its funding.

Mathieson says inflation and housing costs mean Unison is helping more seniors.

"The demand for our services has gone up 30 per cent but the fundraising, the revenue to support it, has gone down, so it's a bit of a challenge," he said.

Higher demand isn't a bad thing for local courier companies being used as an alternative to Canada Post.

"We're now doing a lot of Christmas presents, a lot of paycheques for companies that can't get their paycheques out," said Drilon Beqa, who runs Flash Express Courier.

But businesses can only take on so much.

Flash Express Courier has extended its hours because it has had a lot more calls lately.

"I would say probably like 20 to 30 per cent but I can't take it all on. I do what I can because I already have all my regular customers. Otherwise, with Canada Post being on strike, people might miss out on all their Christmas presents," Beqa said.

Courier isn't an option for some services, including the sending out of driver's licences.

Andrew Balog lost several pieces of ID recently and worries he might not have what it takes to board a plane home for the holidays.

"Plane leaves on Dec. 22 for Ontario," he said.

"Typically, it takes about two weeks for them to send you a new driver's licence in the mail, but they said it will take longer because of this, so I don’t know if I'll have it in time."

Due to the strike, Alberta Registries has stopped mailing driver's licences and is issuing digital downloads that last 30 days.

And for anyone flying, most airlines accept passports and health cards as identification for domestic flights.

Alberta Registries recommends if your driver's licence is not expiring, just wait until the Canada Post service disruption ends before you renew.

The strike is over wages and working conditions.

Picketing began on Nov. 15.

Federal mediation is on hold because the sides have been too far apart.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says it has lowered its wage demands to 19 per cent over four years.