“It’s time for the federal government to step in.”
That’s from Prince George Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Neil Godbout (God-boo) as he says rural and remote communities in the north are being disproportionately impacted compared to their urban counterparts in the Lower Mainland who have more private sector options to send their products away during the Canada Post strike.
Godbout told MyPGNow.com both Canada Post and the Postal Workers Union have had plenty of opportunity to sit down and strike a deal.
“It’s one of the things the BC Chamber and the Canadian Chamber have written to the federal government about is the effect on rural, remote and, northern communities – those are the communities who are paying a higher cost for sure.”
“A 26-day labour disruption has given both sides plenty of opportunity to reach a new agreement at this point because of the harm to businesses in general but again as I stress to those rural and remote and northern communities, it is time for Ottawa to step in.”
Calls for Ottawa to intervene have been mounting, but so far has refused to do so.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the Canada Post strike is likely to cost small businesses just north of a billion dollars.
Local CUPW 812 President Rick Harris noted they wanted to get a new deal done a year earlier but Canada Post continues to drag its feet.
“We have been negotiating since November of 2023 and it wasn’t until the corporation decided to change our conditions of work, which meant that we were no longer protected under the old contract and switch it to the Canada Labour Code, which has less protection.”
“Negotiators for CPW has sent a proposal to Canada Post yesterday and we came down with the wage demands and made some other concessions with that. I have not heard anything concrete on Canada Post. I think they submitted a release saying they are disappointed, well they aren’t the only ones.”
“If Ottawa and the postal workers union want this to end then they need to force the corporation to negotiate a fair contract,” added Harris.
Harris added holding a strike close to the holiday season was not the plan but is just the way it shook out.
CUPW Local 812 has 204 members encompassing, Mackenzie, Vanderhoof, Burns Lake and, Fraser Lake as well as Prince George.
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