As the Canada Post strike involving more than 55,000 workers neared the end of its 25th day, the postal service warned that a speedy resolution is unlikely.
In a statement Monday, Canada Post said the latest proposals from the union widen the gap between the two parties.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers provided details on those demands Monday. They include wage increases, a cost of living allowance, and more job protections.
The union said in a bulletin to members that itB次元官网网址檚 calling on Canada Post to seriously consider its proposals, adding that the latest proposal includes demands voted on by members across the country.
The strike began Nov. 14, and federal mediation was put on hold nearly two weeks ago due to the sides being too far apart.
Calls for government intervention have been mounting from the business community, but so far the government has said itB次元官网网址檚 not stepping in.
The federal government has intervened in other high-profile labour disputes recently by advising the labour board to order binding arbitration.
In the meantime, backlogs and frustration mount acrosse the country
ItB次元官网网址檚 been almost two weeks since Darren Solomon had a working fridge. The applianceB次元官网网址檚 compressor conked out on Nov. 26 and heB次元官网网址檚 been waiting for a replacement part ever since.
The supplier he spoke with last month said the company typically receives LG components within a day.
B次元官网网址淒ay 1 passes, nothing. Day 2 passes, nothing. Day 3 passes, nothing.B次元官网网址�
The service company could not even provide him with a tracking number, said Solomon, who lives with his family in Richmond Hill, Ont.
B次元官网网址淭hey said, B次元官网网址業tB次元官网网址檚 the Canada Post strike.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
The delay has forced the Solomons to throw out food and pay for takeout almost daily.
B次元官网网址淲e have someone in the house with an eating disorder, and this has totally broken their routine. ItB次元官网网址檚 really thrown them off,B次元官网网址� said Solomon.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 frustrating and itB次元官网网址檚 infuriating.B次元官网网址�
As delivery backlogs build along with holiday angst, wait times and shipping rates continue to grow for consumers and businesses dealing with the fallout from the Canada Post work stoppage.
The Crown corporationB次元官网网址檚 shutdown meant that millions of Canadians who receive or send parcels via Canada Post in the lead-up to Christmas have had to turn elsewhere.
In the weeks leading up to Dec. 25, Canada Post typically receives close to double its daily parcel volume.
The Crown corporation says it handled 296 million parcels over the course of 2023, or nearly 811,000 per day, making up 29 per cent of the parcel market. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a big hole for private operators to plug.
The spillover to other shipping companies has proven too much for many to bear.
Purolator, UPS, FedEx and Canpar Express are among the major carriers to implement multi-day pauses on shipments from smaller courier companies, according to a client notice from one of them B次元官网网址� eShipper B次元官网网址� obtained by The Canadian Press. Those platforms handle shipments for tens of thousands of small businesses, which rely on the couriers to secure lower rates than the mom-and-pop shops could get individually.
The temporary halt has caused backlogs throughout the delivery chain.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e actually refusing business,B次元官网网址� said Timothy Byrnes, director of parcel delivery firm Jet Worldwide. B次元官网网址淵ou get double the volume, but four times the problems.B次元官网网址�
FedEx has also introduced a temporary limit of five packages per drop-off at its retail locations and launched a new late-night shift at some hubs to increase sorting capacity, the company said in an email.
With delivery demand surging, consumers and small businesses have little choice other than to opt for a pricier carrier and endure delays or hold off on sending packages altogether.
Shipping rates for individual packages are often far costlier than the product itself, said Byrnes.
B次元官网网址淲e work with a company that sells matcha tea products from Japan. We help them with the import,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淪he contacted us saying, B次元官网网址楬ey, can you help with shipments to the U.S.?B次元官网网址� They normally use Canada Post. We didnB次元官网网址檛 even give her a rate: B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 telling you, itB次元官网网址檚 not going to be low enough.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
The higher cost of private carriers B次元官网网址� especially during peak holiday shopping season B次元官网网址� is rarely taken on by shippers alone.
B次元官网网址淐onsumers are also seeing those delivery costs being passed on to them,B次元官网网址� said Sinead Gleason, Equifax CanadaB次元官网网址檚 commercial solutions analyst.
Meanwhile, lag times continue to lengthen. In some rural or remote areas, even delayed shipments are out of reach, since only Canada Post serves farther-flung parts of the country.
B次元官网网址淎 friend of mine lives in a very rural area. She likes to support small and local businesses. And she has had conversations back and forth about the fact they canB次元官网网址檛 deliver to her,B次元官网网址� Gleason said.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 had to cancel orders.B次元官网网址�
