Manitobans bracing for looming Canada Post strike
With a Canada Post strike looming, CTV's Michelle Gerwing reports on the impact it could have.
Canada is potentially days away from a country-wide postal stoppage -- again.
The union representing Canada Post employees issued a strike notice, and Thursday could be the last day you get mail for awhile.
Here in Manitoba, this means shipping anything could cost more, take longer, and some rural customers may not even be able to get parcels.
The importance of mail
Storm Anderson thought her phone and wallet were gone for good after she lost them in February. However, she unexpectedly got them back in the mail on May 3.
She suspects someone found her belongings and dropped them loosely into a Canada Post letter box.
'I think that was pretty awesome that they'd do that, because I know that there was no postage on it, obviously,' she said.
'So, for them to do that just as a nice gesture. I'm very grateful to them.'
The impact of a strike
These types of gestures may be disrupted if Canada Post workers hit the picket lines.
It's the second time in six months as May 22 marks the end of the extension which sent postal workers back on the job last Christmas.
Amid the uncertainty, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce's Chuck Davidson says his organization and many other businesses are going digital and shopping for other shippers that may be more reliable -- even if it costs more.
'That's the difficulty that I feel Canada Post is in by any kind of a lengthy strike. What you're doing is you're opening up for a different competition, but you're also opening up that business,' he said.
'They're going to be looking elsewhere for how they how they move those goods.'
Small businesses may face struggles
In some cases, like a small rural business or customer in Manitoba, private delivery companies aren't a solution.
'They don't have the staff; they don't have the trucks. They, often rely on Canada Post for that last few miles,' said John Graham with the Retail Council of Canada's Prairies office.
There is still time for a deal to be reached as another offer from the employer is expected on Wednesday.
The union says negotiation sticking points are wage increases, changes to pensions, weekend delivery and the hiring of part time staff , adding that they fear Canada Post is being turned into a gig job, not a good government job with pay and benefits.
Canada Post says the corporation is in trouble and the union is resisting change.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
37 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
DHL Express locks out workers across Canada
Unifor says DHL Express Canada locked out workers just after midnight today as the two sides failed to reach a contract deal, injecting more labour turmoil into the country's parcel delivery market. The union, which represents 2,100 truck drivers, couriers and warehouse workers across seven provinces, says they went on strike in response at 11 a.m. ET. Unifor says the German-owned carrier is proposing to change the driver pay system and planning to use replacement workers before legislation banning them comes into effect on June 20. The work stoppage, which affects package delivery across the country, comes as Canada Post remains at loggerheads with 55,000 workers, whose union last month imposed an overtime ban that scales back parcel services. Unifor says a work stoppage could disrupt next weekend's Formula One Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, where DHL is responsible for transporting the turbocharged race cars. Unifor says its bargaining priorities remain wages, working conditions and surveillance and automation in the workplace.
Winnipeg Free Press
43 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
DHL Express locks out workers across Canada, adding to parcel sector turmoil
MONTREAL – Unifor says DHL Express Canada locked out workers just after midnight today as the two sides failed to reach a contract deal, injecting more labour turmoil into the country's parcel delivery market. The union, which represents 2,100 truck drivers, couriers and warehouse workers across seven provinces, says they went on strike in response at 11 a.m. ET. Unifor says the German-owned carrier is proposing to change the driver pay system and planning to use replacement workers before legislation banning them comes into effect on June 20. The work stoppage, which affects package delivery across the country, comes as Canada Post remains at loggerheads with 55,000 workers, whose union last month imposed an overtime ban that scales back parcel services. Unifor says a work stoppage could disrupt next weekend's Formula One Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, where DHL is responsible for transporting the turbocharged race cars. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Unifor says its bargaining priorities remain wages, working conditions and surveillance and automation in the workplace. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2025.
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Apple, Amazon and Spotify challenging CRTC's Canadian content rules in court this week
Some of the world's biggest streaming companies will argue in court on Monday that they shouldn't have to make CRTC-ordered financial contributions to Canadian content and news. Article content The companies are fighting an order from the federal broadcast regulator that says they must pay five per cent of their annual Canadian revenues to funds devoted to producing Canadian content, including local TV news. Article content Article content Article content The case, which consolidates several appeals by streamers, will be heard by the Federal Court of Appeal in Toronto. Article content Article content In December, the court put a pause on the payments — estimated to be at least $1.25 million annually per company. Amazon, Apple and Spotify had argued that if they made the payments and then won the appeal and overturned the CRTC order, they wouldn't be able to recover the money. Article content In court documents, the streamers put forward a long list of arguments on why they shouldn't have to pay, including technical points regarding the CRTC's powers under the Broadcasting Act. Article content Spotify argued that the contribution requirement amounts to a tax, which the CRTC doesn't have the authority to impose. The music streamer also took issue with the CRTC requiring the payments without first deciding how it will define Canadian content. Article content Article content Amazon argued the federal cabinet specified the CRTC's requirements have to be 'equitable.' Article content Article content It said the contribution requirement is 'inequitable because it applies only to foreign online undertakings and only to such undertakings with more than $25 million in annual Canadian broadcasting revenues.' Article content Apple also said the regulator 'acted prematurely' and argued the CRTC didn't consider whether the order was 'equitable.' It pointed out Apple is required to contribute five per cent, while radio stations must only pay 0.5 per cent — and streamers don't have the same access to the funds into which they pay. Article content The CRTC imposes different rules on Canadian content contributions from traditional media players. It requires large English-language broadcasters to contribute 30 per cent of revenues to Canadian programming.
