Canada Post workers issue strike notice for May 23

Workers for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), for both Urban and RSMC (Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers) bargaining units issued the notice on Monday.

Canada Post workers have issued strike notice to start on Friday, May 23 at 12 a.m. local time.

On Monday, Canada Post said it was notified by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that workers for both urban and RSMC (rural and suburban mail carriers) bargaining units issued strike notice.

Operations will continue as usual until then, but Canada Post warned that a labour disruption would affect the millions of Canadians and businesses that rely on the postal service.

“In the event CUPW initiates rotating strike activity, Canada Post intends to continue delivering in unaffected areas while working to reach negotiated agreements,” the organization said in a statement.

A strike or lockout would mark the second time in under six months the postal service ground to a halt after 55,000 employees walked off the job for 32 days in November and December.

In the event of a national labour disruption, mail and parcels will not be delivered and no new items will be accepted until the disruption is over.

Any mail and parcels currently in the network will be secured and delivered once operations resume, Canada Post stated.

A work stoppage would affect millions of residents and businesses who typically receive more than two billion letters and roughly 300 million parcels a year via the service.