Canada Post workers on strike in Peterborough

24-hour walkout part of rotating strikes over ‘overburdening’ workload

Unionized Canada Post workers in the Peterborough area hit the picket lines Monday, joining a national rotating strike.

Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 590 walked out at 8 a.m. Monday.

“It’s our turn to join the picket line and show solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the country and show support for our negotiators in Ottawa,” said Rob Cowell, president of CUPW Local 590.

The local represents about 170 employees at roughly 14 Canada Post locations in the city and county, including offices in Peterborough, Lakefield, Bridgenorth, and Aspley.

The local 24-hour strike meant no sorting or delivery of mail during that time.

“I believe Canada Post will claim it’s not affecting (mail delivery) but I’m sure it is,” Cowel said.

Due to the strike, the City of Peterborough did not mail out Ontario Works cheques for Wednesday. Cheques are available for pick-up at the city’s so-

cial services office in the Charlotte Mews on Charlotte St. on Tuesday from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

CUPW started its rotating strike Oct. 22 after negotiators failed to reach an agreement Oct. 21. Since then, union locals across Canada are taking turns picketing in 24-hour shifts.

CUPW represents about 50,000 postal employees across the country. They’ve been without a collective agreement since January, Cowell said.

The union wants Canada Post to address issues such as overburdening and health and safety.

With the continued growth of parcel delivers because of online shopping, Cowell said carriers can be out delivering mail until 8 p.m., working 12- to 14-hour days.

“That is overburdening to us,” he said.

Last Wednesday, the federal government appointed a senior arbitrator and mediator to the negotiating table in Ottawa.

The last postal worker strike was in 2011. The 12-day rotating strike was followed by a twoweek lockout by Canada Post management. Back-to-work legislation then forced union members to return to work.

JESSICA NYZNIK EXAMINER Canada Post employee Brad Corriveau pickets with fellow coworkers outside the Canada Post office on George and King streets Monday. Canadian Post of Union Workers Local 590, which represents about 170 Canada Post workers in the area, spent 24 hours picketing as part of CUPW’s Canada-wide rotating strike.