Canada Post’s ongoing labour dispute is causing concern for some Squamish-based business owners who say their sales are being affected.
After withdrawing its 72-hour lockout notice earlier this month, both Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers agreed to negotiate while the nation’s postal system stays open. But the uncertainty is continuing to affect businesses and their customers. Jessica Udell, owner of Squamish-based Little Mod Clothing, said she has had to open and close her online shop three times while she figures out alternate shipping methods and has closed international shipping completely until the dispute is resolved.
“If there is a lockout I will be forced to pay extra postage if I want to keep my customers happy, as Squamish does not have that many alternative options that are affordable,” she said. “This will be a huge loss to my small business.”
Udell conducts all her business online, including through her website and on Etsy.
Etsy put out a warning earlier this month to all buyers and sellers about a possible Canada Post strike, contributing to a decline in sales for many Canadian online retailers who use the website.
“My sales have dropped dramatically as Etsy buyers are afraid to buy from Canadians until there is a resolution,” said Udell, adding many of her Etsy customers are from the U.S.
Trish James, owner of Stylezone Fashions in downtown Squamish, said her store hasn’t been affected by the labour dispute but she has put measures in place in case a work stoppage happens.
“A lot of my vendors use UPS and Fedex, but because of the uncertainty, the ones who use Canada Post have made other arrangements,” she said. “They don’t want to risk their goods sitting in transit, and being stressed that their fall goods won’t get here in time.”
James has seen a decline in the number of vendors who use Canada Post over the last few years, with many opting for alternative shipping methods.
Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which have been in discussions since late-2015, agreed to a 30-day “cooling off period” to reach a settlement and are negotiating with the aid of a government appointed mediator.
“Assurance from both parties that the postal system will remain open for business while we negotiate will provide the certainty that Canadians and our employees are looking for,” Canada Post said in a statement.
But this is doing little to ease the concerns of online retailers. Canada Post said that the amount of mail and parcels they deliver has dropped significantly, with parcel volumes from their major e-commerce customers down 80 per cent from last year and mail also down 80 per cent.
The two sides haven’t reached an agreement on several major issues, including a union request to increase wages for rural and suburban mail carriers paid 30 per cent less than their urban counterparts, and a Canada Post request for pension changes for new hires that is designed to save money.
“Discussions between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) continue with the objective of reaching negotiated settlements that are fair to employees and keep prices affordable for all who use the postal system,” said Mouktar Abdillahi with Canada Post.
“We understand that some uncertainty remains, but we are open for business while negotiations continue.”
