A group of protesters dressed as Santa picketed in front of the Canada Post on Glanford Avenue Saturday morning in support of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
The protesters, endorsed by the Young Communist League of Victoria and the Social Environmental Alliance, blocked Canada Post vehicles from leaving the premises for about one hour.
B次元官网网址淪anta does much more than just give children what they want for Christmas. These SantasB次元官网网址heyB次元官网网址檙e stepping in to help those that help others and thatB次元官网网址檚 our postal workers,B次元官网网址� said Howard Breen of Social Environmental Alliance. B次元官网网址淭he fact that Canada Post has mistreated them, actually violated their constitutional right to strike, we felt that mistreatment could not go unnoticed.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE: Canada Post union files constitutional challenge against back-to-work legislation
Cars driving by the picketers honked in support as the Santas sang Christmas carols adjusted to attack Justin Trudeau and the back-to-work legislation that forced an end to the month-long postal worker strike.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers went on rotating strikes starting Oct. 22. A back-to-work bill was passed in Ottawa on Nov. 27.
Just two days ago, Canada Post announced its operations are back to normal across the country.
READ MORE: Canada Post declares operations back to normal just days before Christmas
Some of the demands the protesting Santas have are to repeal the back-to-work legislation, give women equal pay, and protect postal workers from injury, Breen said.
B次元官网网址淭he back to work legislation is a gross violation of a workerB次元官网网址檚 right to strike and so weB次元官网网址檙e calling for the immediate repeal of that legislation.B次元官网网址�
Shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday, a large line of Canada Post trucks were backed up in the parking lot, waiting to get by the picketers.
Canada Post workers came out and read the back-to-work legislation to the picketers and said they had called police to clear them from the scene but police did not arrive.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just about one unionB次元官网网址he Supreme Court said the right to strike is constitutional,B次元官网网址� said Doug Prentice, one of the protesters who was dressed as the Grinch. B次元官网网址淎s a private citizen and a loyal Canadian, I canB次元官网网址檛 stand by and do nothing.B次元官网网址�
Around 10:40 a.m., the group dispersed and Canada Post vehicles were able to leave the parking lot again. Many of the vehicles honked at the protesters on their way out.
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
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