“It’s kind of bittersweet.”
That’s from Local CUPW 812 President Rick Harris on PG postal workers returning to work yesterday (Tuesday) following an announcement from Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon last week.
Harris told Vista Radio he feels for the people waiting to deliver or receive their packages, however, Canada Post has dropped the ball with its trucking schedule.
“We are sympathetic but at the same time, we are back to work now, we were forced back to work but Canada Post needs to get their stuff together and get the trailers rolling so that we can deliver the people’s parcels.”
“I am not really sure what is happening. PG posties have been back on the job for two days and there is no scheduled truck today. I don’t know what Canada Post is thinking with their trucking schedule – we have been told the same thing, millions of parcels and millions of trailers across the country and Canada Post can’t seem to get the trucks rolling again,” added Harris.
When asked if another strike is possible at the end of May, Harris says it’s not out of the question but hopes Canada Post will come to the table with the intent to bargain a new contract.
“I am really hoping that there is still supposed to be negotiations going on and they are supposed to be negotiating for however long it takes to get a contract. I am hoping that Canada Post is going to come to the table with some fair negotiations, with the intent to bargain.”
On Friday, MacKinnon directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to first determine whether a new deal was possible by the end of the year.
The Board heard from both sides over the weekend, and issued its decision on Sunday that the two sides were too far apart.
The backlog is expected to take weeks to clear.
There are over 55-thousand postal workers across the country, including 204 that service Mackenzie, Vanderhoof, Prince George, Burns Lake and Fraser Lake.
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