A total of eight local Canada Post workers, including four full-time workers, were in a legal position to go on strike today (Friday, June 3) if the labour dispute involving the Crown corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) was not resolved by the deadline of last night (June 2) at midnight.
Doug Machell, Squamish-based union representative, on Tuesday (May 31) said the strike would affect four full-time, two part-time and two casual workers. Four rural service mail carriers, who are also represented by CUPW but under a different contract, would not be affected, he said.
Machell said the two main issues in the dispute are Canada Post's positions in favour of creating what he called "a two-tiered system for the workers" and elimination of sick leave.
"We seem to have public support on the major issues," he said.
John Caines, Canada Post spokesperson, on Thursday said the Crown Corporation remained committed to negotiating a settlement to the dispute.
"We're still negotiating, we're committed to getting a deal and there's nothing saying we can't negotiate past this deadline," Caines said.
If a strike does occur, "there will be no service," Caines said. The union, he said, has indicated that if job action is taken, only workers in Winnipeg will go on strike initially.
