As some Vancouver Island unionized postal workers hit the picket line Thursday, the federal government tabled legislation to end rotating strikes.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said members participated in strike action in Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Campbell River and Courtenay.
The list of targeted facilities is close to 20, with the majority in B.C., along with Alberta and Ontario.
Campbell River, Columbia River, Courtenay, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Quesnel, Salmon Arm-Revelstoke, and Williams Lake (BC) are on strike as of 7am PT, Nov 22 – Members: contact your local for more info [https://t.co/gMNdGgYrtg] #canlab #negos2018 pic.twitter.com/3miww3M1LF
— cupw (@cupw) November 22, 2018
CUPW members are now in their 5th week of rotating walkouts in an effort to back their contract demands, causing massive backlogs of unsorted mail and packages at postal depots.
Canadian Union of Postal Workers back on the picket line Thursday in Port Alberni, Nanaimo, Campbell River and Courtenay. File photo.
Labour Minister Patty Hajdu tabled the bill in the House of Commons Thursday in an effort to reach contract agreements between the union and Canada Post, with Black Friday sales less than 24 hours away and the busy holiday season fast approaching.
“When the consequences of a work stoppage become so great that they begin to result in serious or lasting harm, we must act,” Hajdu told the House of Commons.
CUPW has warned of a legal battle if the federal government passes the back-to-work legislation, calling such a move unconstitutional.
Unioned workers walking the picket line in Courtenay are upset with federal government’s decision.
“Finally, after you know, ten months of nothing from the corporation, they finally sat down and started moving and now with legislation being introduced, I guess that really means it’s taken the power away from us and the corporation doesn’t have to do anything any more.” said Meagan Goudreault, CUPW Local 718 President in Courtenay.
Canada Post has said it has a backlog of hundreds of trailers and is expecting delays into next year, although the union says the numbers are exaggerated.
On Monday, CUPW turned down an offer for a holiday cooling-off period and a possible $1,000 bonus for its 50,000 members, saying it would only mean postal employees continuing to work under the same conditions the union is trying to have changed.
With files from the Canadian Press.
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