Postal workers would like to apologize.

TheyB次元官网网址檙e sorry for poor delivery times, said Janet Barney, president of the local branch of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

Barney added sheB次元官网网址檇 like to apologize specifically to Muriel Jean Veinot, 86, who called the B次元官网网址 when it took nine and 12 days to deliver two letters within Victoria.

B次元官网网址�(But) our hands are really tied,B次元官网网址� Barney said.

B次元官网网址淲e know what the problem is, why people arenB次元官网网址檛 getting their mail. TheyB次元官网网址檙e not staffing routes. Our mail gets shipped to Vancouver and itB次元官网网址檚 not prioritized over there. We donB次元官网网址檛 control it on this end, so we donB次元官网网址檛 know what happens (to it).B次元官网网址�

Like Veinot, Barney said, postal workers are frustrated with the service. The problem, according to the union, is that last spring Canada Post moved its main mail processing plant to Vancouver, so a large volume of local-to-local mail is sorted on the Lower Mainland. This resulted in 60 jobs being axed locally.

In addition, Canada Post posted its best net-income ever in 2010, boasting a profit of $439 million B次元官网网址� although the Crown corporation clarified that includes a $192-million income tax carried over from the previous year.

B次元官网网址淲e are in the middle of a huge renewal program and a changing time,B次元官网网址� said Canada Post spokesperson Anick Losier from Ottawa.

B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 come without hiccups, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure. WeB次元官网网址檙e trying to do these changes so we can continue to deliver, but also do it in a way thatB次元官网网址檚 financially sustainable. If we go into debt, the taxpayers are going to be paying for that.B次元官网网址�

Barney said that in addition to moving the processing plant, Canada Post has told its employees they cannot work overtime, meaning carriers donB次元官网网址檛 always finish their routes.

She said the union has amassed stacks of grievances from workers, but those go unaddressed by the employer.

WhatB次元官网网址檚 the solution? B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 where we need the public,B次元官网网址� Barney said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e workers dealing with a boss who has this attitude. (And) Canada Post, their boss is the government. ThatB次元官网网址檚 who ultimately owns the post office is the Canadians. This $443 million shoud be put back into services.B次元官网网址�

She said Canadians unhappy with Canada PostB次元官网网址檚 services should write to their MPs, who can bring the issues to Parliament for discussion.