Latest news with #CanadaPostStrike
CBC
30-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Potential Canada Post strike means companies are bracing for business impacts
A national Canada Post strike isn't out of the question as the corporation and the union representing 55,000 workers remain in talks. A strike in November halted delivery for businesses like the East Coast Quilting Company in St. John's, and owners Read Bowen and Debbie Northover say another disruption would cause even more problems.
CBC
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
B.C. business owners brace for second Canada Post strike
Social Sharing B.C business owners are facing the financial difficulties of another Canada Post strike, after postal worker unions delivered a strike notice to the company on Monday with plans to strike on Friday. Emma May, owner of womenswear store Sophie Grace Designs, sells the bulk of her merchandise through online orders. However, when Canada Post strikes, she says she can't reach customers in rural areas. "We service customers all over the country, we service them into the states too but that's a whole other issue with tariffs," she said. "It's a big deal," she told CBC's The Early Edition. May says that during last year's Canada Post strike, business owners in B.C. had to deal with the port strike at the same time – this year, it's tariffs. "It's not cool that businesses here are looking at this again saying, 'Why are we going through this again?'" When Canada Post workers go on strike, businesses must turn to private courier companies if they want to ship their goods. Typically, the couriers cost more than Canada Post. Canada Post workers striked for 32 days starting in November 2024, but the government ordered them back to work on Dec. 17. Both the workers and company were told to come to a new agreement by May, but that hasn't happened. May, who sells suits, silks and other higher-priced items, says her business can afford an increase in shipping. However, many of her business colleagues who sell items ranging from $10 to $30 will be heavily impacted. Connally McDougall, the owner of another Vancouver-based clothing company, said she is not surprised to hear about the strike notice because postal workers did not get the changes that they were asking for during the previous strike in November. WATCH | Small businesses brace for Canada Post disruption: How should the federal government respond to this next round of the Canada Post labour dispute? 2 days ago Duration 1:28 David MacDonald, a senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, says Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals could take a different approach from Trudeau's Liberals, who intervened in the previous Canada Post disruption in December of 2024. Speaking to BC Today host Michelle Eliot, MacDonald says Canada Post could look at improving its strategy instead of laying off workers to manage its dire financial situation. McDougall's brand, Connally Goods, focuses on size and gender inclusivity and sells the majority of its items online. Using alternative shipping companies, such as UPS, FedEx and Purolator not only cost more money, but the logistics of switching over also costs her time. "Sending a parcel to New Brunswick used to cost maybe $15 and now it's $22 because I have to use an alternate provider," she said. "We do need Canada Post." Tariffs don't affect her business as much because her products are locally sourced and made, but, the time spent keeping updated on postal strikes and having to educate customers on service delivery is costly. McDougall says that some couriers are now charging an extra $2 per domestic parcel due to higher demand created by the Canada Post strike notice. "I can't blame them, if anything I hope it incentivizes the corporation to make an agreement that's fair." Fiona Famulak, president and CEO of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, says that shipping disruptions, caused by the postal strikes and recent port and rail disruptions, create "unreliability in our supply chain." In a press release B.C.'s Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction said that it is taking steps to ensure that those who are receiving disability or income assistance from the province will still receive payment during the Canada Post strike. In another press release, the Surrey Board of Trade and the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce called upon the Canadian government and Canada Post to collaborate on a long-term solution that protects both service and workers' rights. Canada Post presented a new offer to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers on Wednesday, which it says includes a 13.59% increase in wages over four years for current Canada Post employees. Also under the new offer, future employees, who are hired after the new collective agreement is signed, will receive health and pension benefits after six months of regular employment. CUPW has said it is reviewing the offer, but noted Wednesday that the offer is "short of our last demand for a 19 per cent increase to members' base wages to keep pace with the rising costs of living."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Small businesses anxious about possible Canada Post strike
The manager of an Alberta clothing store says small businesses are feeling anxious as a strike deadline nears for thousands of Canada Post workers. Erin Primrose says she has been frantically preparing to send out shipments from Thelma & Thistle in Lethbridge using alternative delivery services. About 55, 000 members of the Canadian Union Of Postal Workers are set to go on strike shortly after midnight. The union says the latest wage increase offer from the postal service falls short. Canada Post says it's already seeing mail volumes decline and is pushing for an urgent resolution. Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, says many business owners already struggling with uncertain times are stressed about the possible labour disruption. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025. Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press
CBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Cape Breton business, organizations prepare for possible postal strike
Social Sharing Cape Breton businesses and organizations are getting ready in the event of a Canada Post strike that could start Friday morning. Tracy Stubbard, owner of Tracy's Rolling Yarn Shop in Sydney, N.S., said she doesn't do a lot of online sales, but she does use the mail system to deliver knitting supplies to a number of customers. "I usually try to squish as much into a flat-rate box as I can, but I mean, if it's just one skein, it's kind of hard to justify paying $30 for the skein and $17 to ship, so I unravel and squish it into an envelope so it gets shipped like a letter," she said. Stubbard runs a mobile business taking supplies to customers across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and sets up at the cruise terminal when a ship is in. She also just opened a shop on Charlotte Street and said there are plenty of cruise passengers who want to buy quality hand-dyed yarns featuring local colours, such as the Nova Scotia and Cape Breton tartans, and have it mailed home to save on luggage space. Stubbard said she spends about $2,000 a year on shipping through the Canada Post outlet in Dominion, where she lives, and she's hoping there won't be a strike. Strike possible Friday "The ladies that work at the post office in Dominion have been very kind to me since I started my business and I hate to see them be without a job," Stubbard said. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), representing about 55,000 employees, has said members could walk off the job Friday unless the union sees movement on demands that include better pay and details around weekend work, among other things. Canada Post presented CUPW with a new offer this week, but union officials have asked for time to review the details. Stubbard occasionally used private courier services during the 32-day strike last winter, but she said it cost more and meant driving from Dominion into Sydney. She will do that again, but hopes it won't be necessary. "It's definitely an inconvenience. It's just so easy to go through Canada Post," Stubbard said. A postal strike will also affect the Cape Breton Regional Library, said librarian Lisa Mulak. The library has an online program that anyone in Nova Scotia can access to borrow a book or other item. With the second-largest collection in the province, the Cape Breton library mails out about 7,000 pieces a month, mostly on the mainland outside Halifax. If there's a strike, that service will be suspended, Mulak said. Postal service 'excellent,' librarian says Canada Post offers libraries a discounted book rate to help make materials available to smaller communities that don't have a library or for people who can't otherwise get to a library branch in person. Mulak said the Cape Breton library has a great relationship with the postal service. "It's been an excellent service for us and we're hopeful that things are resolved quickly," she said. Cape Breton Regional Municipality still sends and receives cheques through the mail and uses the mail system for other administrative tasks, including sending out tax and water utility bills. "It's definitely a challenge when the postal system is not working," said spokesperson Christina Lamey. CBRM's water bills for some customers will be affected right away, because the municipal website is not yet set up for online billing and payments. Others may not be affected until their billing cycle comes around in the coming months. Lamey said if there's a strike, residents are being urged to contact 311, either on the website or by phone, to get their water bill and information on how to pay it.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Small businesses worry about looming Canada Post strike
Only months after a 32-day Canada Post strike, many local businesses are worried about the impact of another work stoppage. CTV's Katelyn Wilson reports.
