As possible Canada Post strike looms, who could see biggest impact?

Contract talks will see a cooling-off period expire on Saturday and workers could legally strike as of Sunday if a 72-hour notice is given.

After Canada Post presented its latest offer to workers, the risk of a looming disruption is likely leaving Canadians worried about what will happen with their mail.

The offers made Tuesday saw the Crown corporation vow to protect and enhance “what’s important to CUPW-represented employees,” including higher wage increases amounting to 11.5 per cent over four years and protections to workers’ pensions.

It said the offers “demonstrate the Corporation’s commitment to reaching negotiated agreements, without any labour disruption.”

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) put out a statement on Wednesday that after its initial review of the offers, the corporation fell “short.”

Contract talks will see a cooling-off period expire on Saturday if a deal isn’t reached and while the union did not say if it would reject the offer, workers could legally strike as of Sunday if a 72-hour notice is given.

If strike action occurs by Canada Post workers, it would be rural communities that would likely feel the biggest impact, said Ian Lee, an associate professor of management at Carleton University.

“I don’t think the urban will even notice there’s a strike because we’re not using it,” he said in an interview. “In the small towns and villages and in rural Nova Scotia and in rural eastern Ontario, they’ll be screaming for sure.”

That’s namely due to those areas possibly not having as many alternatives outside of Canada Post.