POSTAL WORKERS WALK OUT

Windsor part of rotating strikes

Rotating strikes by Canadian postal workers began Monday in four cities across the country — and Windsor was one of them. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers had warned a strike was coming if a deal wasn’t reached by 12:01 a.m. in their ongoing negotiations with Canada Post for new collective agreements. CUPW members were set to walk picket lines in front of Windsor post offices.

Victoria, Edmonton and Halifax were the other three cities subjected to the 24-hour strikes on Monday.

CUPW said a rotating strike strategy was chosen in order to minimize the disruption to the public. According to the union, mail will still be delivered — although there could be delays. But Canada Post disputed that claim, stating on Monday: “In those areas, mail and parcels will not be delivered or picked up today.”

The negotiations have been going on for almost a year. Collective agreements are being sought for rural and suburban mail carriers and those working in urban postal operations.

CUPW said their key demands are about job security, better health and safety measures, more equality for mail carriers, and less overburdening and forced overtime.

“Canada Post had the opportunity this weekend to stop any postal disruption on Monday, but instead, as they have for almost a year, they refused to talk about the issues that matter to our members,” said CUPW national president Mike Palecek.

NICK BRANCACCIO Striking postal workers wave to passing motorists from the picket line on Monday outside Canada Post’s Walker Road plant. The union launched 24-hour strikes in Windsor, Edmonton, Halifax and Victoria.