For the past few days, the impending – and now rotating – Canada Post strike has been in the news.
And by now, most of you have already received ominous, spam-like emails stating that a strike will not exempt you from paying your bills…on-time! Darn it. So aside from being proactive, looking up your credit card and other balances owing, online, do you personally still need the postal service?
Honestly, I do not remember the last time that I sent/received a personal letter to a friend or family member. However, I do do a fair share of both selling/buying on eBay, so this impending strike has forced me to slow down my business. In addition to warning my buyers, I am also listing less in fear that the rotation will hit Toronto next!
Today, while dropping off a package at the postal counter, located inside Shoppers Drug Mart, I asked the clerk if she knows when Toronto’s turn will be. Her response? Well, we’re responsible for generating 60% of the lettermail/parcels in Canada. I’m not sure if she was referring to Toronto or Ontario, sending or receiving, but I found this off-the-cuff statistic quite interesting.
If this stat is anywhere near accurate, Toronto will probably be one of the last places to be hit, as it’ll be used as a sort of “bargaining chip” for the postal workers.
So the question remains, will a postal strike have any affect on you, and if so, how?
The strike will have a little bit of an effect on me since I have a small online business… First it was a garbage strike, now mail. I’m scared to know what’s next.
sewage treatement plant strikes Erica…
I’m planning on applying to Professional schools in the States this summer for admission for the 2012 year. Unfortunately, the American schools process applications and fill up their seats on a first come first serve basis. So the sooner I send my application and everything related to them, the better my chances of getting accepted into a school amongst the intense competition. I sent my transcripts to the application centre in Washington last week and I’m afraid it got held up somewhere in Canada since they haven’t received it yet 🙁 So my future and my career is literally at stake here and I’ve been doing nothing but panicking so far and praying that my stuff will reach them soon!!! 🙁
Hi
My husband works for Canada Post, just to let you know parcels will not be effected by any strikes. Canada post owns Purolator Courier and in the event of a strike all parcels will be delivered by Purolater. As for letters too bad. ; ) As of today Canada Post walked away from the bargaining table (which is not a goos sign at all)
so the only three things that can happen now are:
1>to have a rotating strike in big cities, such as Van and T.O.
2>have a full national strike
3>or what will probably happen Canada Post will lock employees out.
Just a bit of an update if you hadn’t heard : )
I just read something that said that Canada Post is contemplating delivering 3 days a week in urban centres, instead of five…Monday, Wednesday and Friday…Hum. I don’t think that I’m too crazy about that idea.
This is horrible news. I run a review blog and NEED Canada Post to function to be able to keep running my blog.
I am happy to hear though that it’s not gonna be a complete stop to all packages. If they come 3 days a week instead of 5, I won’t complain to much! Just imagine if they said straight out “we won’t come at all”…
Waiting for cheques from my work insurance to come and haven’t yet. Grrr. That’s my rent sitting in limbo!!!
Do parcels include padded envelopes? I was contemplating selling on Ebay again when all this strike kerflooey started and have held off. A few extra bucks would really help our family so that would be awesome if I could still send padded envelopes.
The strike would also affect me because I think I’m one of the last people that doesn’t get online bills. I do for my cell phone because they wanted to charge me something like $4 a month for a paper bill, but what happens, and what I know will happen with the rest, is that I open the email saying my bill is ready when I don’t have time to look at it/pay it, and then I forget about it till the next bill comes. I need a piece of paper sitting on my desk.
No parcels are not padded envies unless you pay them at the parcel rate
oh goodness, i still have yet to mail my student loan! i hope Vancouver doesn’t strike just yet!!
There’s still FedEx. If your mail is really important. It’s worth the extra few dollars.
I still get bills via regular mail as well. Atleast I have the option to phone for my balance.
I can’t forget about my daily thrill of getting my mail!
Still send xmas cards, birthday cards, etc through the post but nothing money-related so it’s all good.
This is the time of year many wedding or baby shower invitations are sent out. Who’s going to deliver them if not Canada Post?
Fedex all 100+ invitations?
How about all those online shopping?
and UPS, Fedex don’t deliver to p.o.box addresses.
Strike starts sunday
I miss mail delivery to the mailbox … but I don’t miss the unsolicited junk mail!
I don’t agree with strikes but I see how the outdoor posties are treated … like machines … may be “good” pay but could you do it ???
my freebies and my coupons will be held hostage other than that not to much of an effect.
i really don’t know where some of this information is coming from, especially the parcels, if your husband works at canada post, i am not sure if he is management or not, but do you really think we will let trucks go in and out of the plants to take the parcels to be delivered when we are on a nation wide strike, not,,,,,,,,,the entire purpose of a strike is to stop the mail so we can force each side to start bargaining, they have been trying to reach an agreement for seven months now, enough is enough, just let us keep what we have and quit taking away from us and we will settle, especially our pension, who doesn’t work for their pension, and now they want to take it away, just like they did to the garbage men in windsor, and when they finally went back after three months, they privatized them and they all lost their jobs and had to start working for 14.00 an hour, and we all know this lovely harper gov’t wants to privatize the post office,,,,,,anyways i am not here to dispute the contract i am just here to say do not count on the parcels getting through by purolator,,,,,,,,,,and as for the mail right now, it is only delayed by a day or two until there is a nation wide walk out, or lock out, and as for the strike starts on sunday no one knows this yet, we don’t even know till approx 7p.m if it is our city going on the picket line for the next day or not, so it is any ones guess at this point, we just need public support to help get this settled quickly
Will miss the freebies and coupons that come in the mail…cheques are direct deposited and friends (except my 90 year old mother) has email….
yeah I work there too, and the company treats us pretty crappy. I depend on my hours there to help support my family, well since there is no collective agreement now in place they are demonstrating the kind of corporation they are by reducing my hours from 26/week to 20 hours per week. I saw that porto-pottys were set up by Eastern Ave Toronto letter processing plant and around other postal buildings in the city, so Toronto is probably going to take their turn at the strike soon- OR Canada Post will lock us out first.
I can’t wait to accomplish my financial goals so i can leave that place. they are not nice people to work for. the wage sounds good for a start i suppose, but considering that’s their wage Forever, it’s totally pathetic.. no offence.
Anyways, the thing i’m most sad for, is that as a Canadian employer, Canadians hope to earn a fair wage and good benefits, but this employer is cutting back at the xpense of their employees-one less attractive job for our own people.. a crown corp is Not a private company whose mandate is to make huge increases in revenue.. so when Canadapost saves money, or generates tonnes of money off the backs of it’s workers, it’s not like the public will see the savings, instead the government in general will, and management will line their pockets with the proceeds. rich keep getting richer, poor, get poorer.. i gotta find more coupons for my groceries to keep my budget on track if they lock me out of work. anwyays, thanks for listening.. please do please do please do give us the public support we need to settle this expeditiously. : – )
My online (fulltime) business is now losing money because of this ‘strike’–I could rant, but honestly no one cares — but please remember there are many of us ‘little’ people out there who will not reap any benefits from this strike–but will feel ALL the pain…
I’m sure a lot of people don’t *like* working at McDonalds, but there is no shortage of people with the skills and education required for the position, so you don’t hear about McDonalds strikes very often. Very well qualified people in the US have been unemployed for YEARS now (I know one), and probably would love the OPPORTUNITY to have your job.
If you don’t like it, leave.
We do need the postal service for certain things, but these people are unbelievably selfish – they get an excellent salary, and a good amount of vacation days. And when they do come to an agreement (which I feel they don’t deserve), it won’t be long before they’re on the picket lines again with more demands. Enough already!!!
Good luck getting much support from the public. There is so much animosity against anyone in the public service or those represented by unions. What is so easy to ignore is that unions bring up the standards for all employees. If you aren’t part of a union, you should be assured that it is the strength of unions that have brought up your minimum wage, benefits and rights. It is true, “little people” out there may not immediately “reap any benefits” from this stike, but you most definitely in the future – even if it is a slower change for you than for the employees represented by a union.
If nothing else, remember that we all choose our paths… don’t hate on the ones who sought employment where job security is maintained by unions. Support and togetherness is what makes people, businesses, goverments and countries strong.
I think that Canada Post is going to have to cut back in the coming years, which will either mean lay-offs or pay cuts for the people who work there. Printed mail is outdated, and will only become more so in the future. It’s just a fact.
This strike doesn’t affect me personally (except for the marching protesters at lunchtime on Sparks Street here in Ottawa!). I’ve switched all of my bills to e-bills, I don’t send personal letters, and parcels from on-line shopping are still being delivered.
I don’t think this strike is going to help Canada Post at the bargaining table – not enough Canadians care whether they work or not.
Excellent salary, good vacation, demands…you slug 50lbs of mail on your back in -40 winds, or how about in 40+ smog alerts? You work for a company for 30+ years, suffer from a bad back and bad knees and tell me you wouldn’t fight for your job, or your pension, or your health care?
The fat cats at Canada Post are the ones at the top making hundreds of thousands of dollars off the ones sorting and delivering the stuff.
To answer your question, yes the strike affects this household.
My wedding invites are in the mail…and I am expecting samples and coupons! But the wedding invites are important.
When many in Canada are suffering, many others around the world are much worse off, . . . these obsolete ppl want more.
STOP using Canada Poste . . . They are the Past . . .
I personally haven’t used them in years, on line banking, eBill, email & curriers, are 100% Better, Faster, cheaper, less hassle & grief & I like being treated like a valued customer who’s paying for a service.
to anyone bashing the Canada Post employees, you don’t know the entire story. I am not an employee but I have family who works there. Yes, this entire strike is a major pain but the employees are not exactly enjoying the strike either. It has caused hardship for all….Please consider both sides before commenting further…..
My dad works for Canada Post as a letter carrier- has for 25 years. I’m hoping for his and my mom’s sake that the strike is a short one- he’s close to retirement age and my mom can’t work. He’s slowly watched the organization he works for respect him less and less and I’ve watched him get angrier and more frustrated. The funny part is- the parts that I would find difficult about the job: the heavy bundles, the 8 miles of walking a day at 60 years old, the 35 degree heat, the driving snow at -40 -he’s always been fine with all of that. It’s the management and the lack of respect that has him grumbling. He used to love his job.
Here’s hoping things get settled quickly.
i work for minimum wage…i would love to work for canada post
A Stickie of all Canadian letter & parcel delivery services in Canada would be great, I am sure many don’t know how many great courier services are out there, Some small local services are amazing & I think we are all going too need this information
DHL – Canadian, Nationwide shipping with tracking – 1-800-225-5345
Purolator Courier, Canadian, Nationwide shipping with tracking – On-Line
All Canadian Courier, Nationwide shipping with tracking – Eastern Canada (800) 890-6582 Western Canada Phone: (403) 705-2999
ICS Courier – Canadian, Nationwide shipping with tracking – 1-888-427-8729
UPS Courier – Canadian, Nationwide shipping with tracking – 1-800-742-5877
my husband works for Canada Post too. Management is NOT Good. Forced overtime is done, you dont work the forced overtime, you can get layed off. I gave birth and my husband was just allowed one day off (while in the hospital with me). When I got home, he had to go to work, and yes, FORCED overtime again. They dont care about your personal life.
I just said above because it hurts how people just bash Canada Post employees when they dont really know what the fight is about. It hurts the employees the most to see how people really see them. This strike truly opened my eyes on how some people are, so one-sided and so believing to what they see. As they say, there is always more than just the tip of an iceberg.
but this is hoping for the strike to end soon. It’s impacting us in more ways than just financially, the emotional torture of what you see and read as people lambast the workers, it can be too much. they dont deserve this.
I need the postal service and I miss the service they provide mostly just for contesting and freebees. By the way the employee you talked to at shoppers is not part of canada post. Generally they employed by the store they are in. Plus these franchise operators can charge more than what you would pay at the post office.
As far as Canada post goes if you can work their maintain a positive state of mind (or at least keep it) be proffessional about your job and realize that your in a SERVICE industy, I applaud you (and I know these people exist there). Unfortunately because of the poisonous atmosphere I have found lots of just the opposite kind of qualities. Think of another industry that has it’s own term for losing all control. Did u go to Mcd’s and the guy went all hamburgery or went to the Laz i boy store and the salesment went all furniturey on you.
Union jobs can be like that, makes lots of money but their is a real competition between the company and the union who can do the most number one on each other. My friend used to chair meeting of the carpenters union and is one of the nice guys you could meet. By the way the term was postal if u didn’t get it.
To all the Canada Post employees, THANK YOU for your feedback!
I guess those of us who don’t work there OR know of anyone who works there, we just figure that it’s a “cushy job”, due to the amount of strike threats, raises in postage, etc. It’s easy for those things to make the employees look bad, as opposed to the big wigs.
So thanks again for the insight!
Unfortunately my husband’s insurance carrier still requires us to send in receipts from prescriptions, etc to get reimbursed. They pay us electronically but won’t even accept faxes!!! :/ Otherwise I will miss my coupons too but could survive that!
CUPW Disease: Coming To A Town Near You!
Once-dreaded but now viewed as more of an irritant, CUPW Disease has reportedly spread to the following Canadian hamlets:
Labrador City, N.L.,
Acadie-Bathurst, N.B.,
Summerside, P.E.I.,
Ste. Therese, Que.,
St. Jerome, Que.,
Thunder Bay, Ont.,
Hearst, Ont.,
Brantford, Ont.,
St. Thomas, Ont.,
Flin Flon, Man.,
Yellowknife, Whitehorse and
Vernon, B.C.
Inoculations may be obtained at any FedEx or UPS office. The virus may also reliably be circumvented via use of online banking, retailing, and email services.
Support the CUPW workers’ right to not work and/or be paid! Support their right to strike all summer long — if you see them on the street, give them the thumbs up!
Who goes on a strike during an economic crisis? there are many others who have been looking for employment and can’t make a buck. Sometimes cutting wages is the only way to keep everyone employed. Shall we pay people 30+ bucks an hour and let thousands of employees go instead?
I am ALL IN favour of three days a week for Canada Post workers IF their pay reflects the hours they work… Nothing worse than seeing the postal carrier in the grocery store at 2p.m. doing his/her groceries or at the Barbershop/video store…. knowing they are being paid for a full day but, are long done by early afternoon…JMO~so don’t bite
I wouldn’t mind if Canada Post went to once a week, that is all I check my mailbox anyway. If something is important I use fed-ex or purolator anyway. Also I have been getting e-vites lately for wedding’s etc. and I think its great, also the last e-vite I got that also had a web page set up to track progress and give hotel deals etc. for where they were getting married. I think people need to become less paper reliate and go more digital.
@kturtle..regardnig the pay, yes, it is now inplace. employees are not paid when they do not work, that is just right anyway..so no need to worry about that..their hours have also been cut down to just 20 hours of work per week
While I hear both sides in these posts, the bottom line is you get paid well to do a job you have choosen to do. If you dont like it, find another job. Employees get a very decent wage, I don’t know many employer’s who give time off ( more than the day of birth) to be home with your family, that is why you have holiday’s , use those, like the rest of us do! I have a military spouse who is away a lot, during special occassion’s, they don’t often consider family either to be honest ( depending on the boss ! ), it is a job, one that receives decent pay and benefits and I am very tired of being held hostage by companies like Canada post and other’s going on strike, causing the public inconvenience so that they can get what they figure they deserve! This is an essential service. If Canada Post wants to cut costs, go down to a 3 day a week delivery service! Can you tell I am ticked lol
Apparently we are only going to get mail Monday, Wednesday and Friday, here it is Thursday and I just got some mail from my POST MAN Their strike will not affect me in any way. Hope they get rid of the Posties and we could do everything on line.
I WON’T MISS PAYING FOR DELIVERY, WHICH ONLY HAPPENS, SOMETIMES, IF THE CARRIER FEELS LIKE WORKING THAT DAY.
also…
@kturtle
do you ever go to the grocery store on your lunch or break? I know I do. I just don’t wear a uniform at my job. Postal employees get breaks and lunch just like regular people. They just happen to wear a uniform.
A post by a member that Canada Post owns Purolator no wonder that is why we have so meany problems with Purolator doing there job . They can walk for as long as they want no mater to me no one is worth the kind of money they get to put my mail in the post box bent and ripped and in a lot of cases late .
@Gail – just to clarify..the time off I mentioned when I gave birth was for vacation and it was not granted. They do have the same vacation rules that we all do, and the difference is, it was not granted. and yes, I am sure there are other employers that may not grant vacations too, and so, I pity those that experience that kind of treatment as well.
@Sandra – The new schedule of mail delivery did not start yet. it starts tom.
The majority of you have your heads in the sand. Wake up. Stop relying on the “news” stations to give you your false information and go search for it yourself. Do you honestly think that the news is giving a fair view of everything that is happening? If you do, you really need to educate yourself on how this world works.
The employees are not fighting for MORE than what they have. All they want is for things to stay the same. This is a DEFENSIVE strike. They are being attacked by Canada Post regarding their wages, pensions, and sick leave.
If YOU were being told that everything would be cut and YOU had the option to strike – wouldn’t YOU?????
@Brittany – less demand for postal services means less income. Things can’t stay the way they are. Canada Post either has to fire people or keep everyone but cut back on their salaries/benefits.
My online business is being crippled by this strike. I don’t want to have to pay more for Fedex, but it looks like it is going to come to that. At least Fedex workers won’t go on strike or constantly lose my parcels. I’m being threatened by many of my customers because of delays.
Thanks for nothing, Canada post…
I agree that times have changed and we don’t need postal workers the way we once did. While I do think they have a strenuous job, I do know many people who would love a job getting that type of pay. With the internet and email the way it is, and how the electronic world continues to grow daily, I think that many of these workers will soon be out of jobs… so to go on strike for a position that may soon be obsolete? many question that.
I have a good education and a good job. I’ve been laid off before, I’ve had long commutes and worked at jobs I didn’t like simply because it was a paycheck. I’ve been lucky that I have never had to work outside my field. I’m expected to work days, evenings, weekends and holidays depending on the status of the project. I don’t get paid overtime. If i don’t like it I could quit and they would just find someone else to hire me. I don’t have a company pension, I have an RRSP which is fully funded by me. I think i have 6 days sick leave a year and if you don’t use them, you lose them.
My pay and my job depends on the health of the company – sometimes I get a raise, sometimes not and I could lose my job at anytime if they decided my department was not useful anymore.
I chose to work in this field.
To me this is normal.
The people on strike at Canada Post have chosen to work in that field.
Perhaps their employer is greedy, but perhaps they have lost their perspective.
Perhaps they have forgotten that employees work for an employer and to stay gainfully employed the employer must make money.
Perhaps they have not noticed that the mail system has changed?
Times change, people must adapt.
I have a feeling that after this strike is over that they will be forced to adapt and they will not be happy with the results.
I suppose I could feel sorry for people who have had job security for 20 years and a gold plated pension – but I can’t as that isn’t the way the world works anymore.
Fact, Canada Post is still paying huge dividends to the Government, they are making a profit!
Fact, the Ceo of Canada Post earns an estimated $500,000 /year. That has translated to an average of a 4% increase every year!
Fact, Canada Post is for some still the only way that they do business, personal or otherwise. It is a SERVICE provided to Canadians.
Fact, “Posties” are not scum of the earth that make 30+ an hour and are demanding more, they are simply being asked to keep what they have for themselves and for future carriers. And believe me it is NOT $30/hour :).
Fact, letter carriers are still delivering mail without a contract, without protection, and without any benefits whatsoever.
I am happy about how the strike is going right. It would be a huge impact if postal service were to completely stop. The approach is meant to have as little impact on postal service and the public as possible. Although I do banking and bill payments online, I’m in grad school and many communications with the university and for funding must be dealt with through the mail.
Either way, I’m hoping for a quick resolution. I admit I’m ignorant about the details, but I’m from a mining town and I am familiar with the struggles of workers and unions. It is hard. From the outside looking in the workers seem to have it good, but the companies are constantly trying to cut their rights and benefits to add more to the bulging pockets of those at the top of the company.
I agree completely with Kim. In this day and age, you should KNOW that it is not the company’s responsibitily to look out for your family’s finances. It is yours.
In this ecomonomy EVERYONE is expendable. RRSP’s are just good sence. Almost nobody gets a pension anymore.
I have worked 2 labour intensive full time jobs at a time while being visually impared and suffering the effects of Cancer treatment just so my husband and I could keep our house while he was both working and going to school. Forgive me if I am less then sympathetic.
even though canada post claims letter mail is down 17% since 2006 then why are they making more and more profits each and every year… and thats a fact. they are not loosing money. they wanted to make more profits by cutting more from the employees. what u hear from the news is false informations thats been feed by the canada post.
Canada post spend 2 billion to upgrade their machines…does that sound like loosing money to you.
under this new modern post system from canada post have implemented employee is no longer working an 8 hr job anymore… they are working an 10-14 a day… and on top of that canadapost wants to cut their sick time to more then half. for the people who work outdoor carrying heavy mails going up and down through snow, rain, sun… is not enough. people are extremely miserable now.
It will affect me positively.
I do everything electronically. My only postal need is package delivery, and UPS will do. No junk mail during strike! This might be bad for the postal workers. People will notice how little use the postal services affect the average Canadians. Companies will move even faster towards other means of communications.
Well, I will probably miss the save.ca coupons but I’ll live.
Before anyone comments further about how the employees are this and that and “you’ve chosen to work there” blah blah. Get the facts. Seriously, go talk to an employee of Canada Post. This strike is more about the future employees and what CP wants to take away. The current workers are standing up for the future! My understanding is, some benefits have been taken away without notice. Some retired people are now losing a lot. Imagine, you work ‘freakin’ hard your entire life, retire and then find out your benefits and part pension are suddenly gone. How is that fair?
I am so tired of reading “I don’t have a pension, I work hard.” If you don’t have a job with a pension or benefits or whatever, that is your problem. Stop knocking the CP employees who applied and got their jobs. You could have done so!
People should really stop going by what they ‘hear’ on the news or from random gossip on the street. Get the facts!!
Most people have no idea what is really going on here.
Kimmy says – I am so tired of reading “I don’t have a pension, I work hard.” If you don’t have a job with a pension or benefits or whatever, that is your problem. Stop knocking the CP employees who applied and got their jobs. You could have done so!…This strike is more about the future employees and what CP wants to take away.”
It’s commendable that they are striking for future employees but to paraphrase you – if the future employees don’t get a job with a pension, benefits or whatever then that’s their problem.
“Imagine, you work ‘freakin’ hard your entire life, retire and then find out your benefits and part pension are suddenly gone. How is that fair?”
That happened to more than a few people with no pension plans when their investments took a nose dive in the market downturn – or their company went bankrupt – …how is that fair?
“Most people have no idea what is really going on here.”
Apparently so…
I think a lot of people have lost the original point to this blog.
Personally – has it affected me. No.
At work – yes – but we are figuring it out.
I just hope they all figure it out.
A lot of employees dont even get sick days. Your sick suck it up or just get paid nothing for that day. I think that some of these postal workers need to sit and think of how their benefits would be if they worked at Mcdonalds. A lot of Canadians would love to have their jobs. Whine and complain all you want, its falling on deaf ears. Your sense of entitilement is bullshit. Welcome to the real world
Big Unions Are Done . . . Just talk to the Auto Workers!
The average Canadian has done with a lot less the last few years & in my case done a lot more in order to get that less. . .
But I kept my mouth Shut because I knew . . . .all hard working Canadians Were doing without and many were Hurting. Really Bad!
But We are the very lucky ones here in Canada . . Down in the States & throughout the world, they are Decimated, tens of millions have lot their homes & their lives.
This strike will not affect me at all, which is the original point of this blog.
However, I would like to make some observations on other points made here. I am not sure exactly how much wages figure into this strike but pay rates are based on the skill and education required to do that job. If someone can come in and be trained to do your job in a couple of days, you should not be making $24+ for that job. If it does not require any special skills or education, you should be paid accordingly. The problem with union positions is that the pay rate gets raised to a level where it is just not possible to go any higher because the job does not merit that hourly rate. Canada Post employees need to realize that they have been getting overpaid for many years and people are not interested in hearing that it is not enough. Employees at Walmart and Home Depot have to do heavy lifting and work shift work.Their hours get cut all the time. This work is done at a much lower wage with no benefits or pensions because that job does not require any special skill or knowledge to perform.
I think if Canada Post is cutting back on things, it is because they see the writing on the wall. They know they are in a business that is quickly becoming obsolete. I think they employees should also realize this and plan accordingly.
If you are wondering where Canada Post is coming up with the extra profits when people are using their services less, take a look at the amount of junk mail in your mailbox. Anyone else notice it had increased dramatically in the last couple of years. Canada Post is getting the extra money from that.
hi there
My father in law has worked for canada post for some near 20 years, He is out there ice cold weather storms, hot hot days and after 2 knee replacements!! He is is working for about 20.00 an hr. Most people take mail for granted. I do believe they are under paid and should go on strike..
btw, the issues are not only wage but also pension. The JUNK mail you are referring to is EXTRA work and postal workers volunteer to deliver including regular mail. They mail carrier gets extra money for that
@Michelle – There are MANY people who work for LESS than 20 dollars an hour in cruddy weather that are taken for granted. Do all these people have your support to go on strike as well? It’s completely ridiculous.
However, all this strike has done has made more and more people switch to paperless billing, direct deposit and direct withdrawal. Canada Post has sped up the process of becoming obsolete.
Honestly, for the average household how many people really need Canada post nowadays? Christmas cards and Birthday cards are nice and all but they can still be sent over email. I think Wedding Invitations may be the only exception.
I am all for the employees getting the company to listen to their side…I understand what they are fighting for is for decent human respect…say you are sick and you call in to your company does your company treat ya right and tell you okay we will find someone or do they say you have to come to sick even if you are sick? Or say you injure yourself on the job and are on work safe payments the company keeps calling your house wondering when you are returning back to work like every other day… Could you put up with the harassment if your company did that to you even if you were geninuely sick or injured?
Strikes are only there to put a lean on the company to make them decide faster because it starts to cost them every single day they are out on strike.
Sure as customers we feel cheated or left out in the cold…but if this union of employeees get at least half of what they are asking for its progress for all those other unions of employees at the bargaining table with their companies and there sure is lots of them…
Wow, some of the comments on here are unbelievable, you think you can just walk into a letter carriers job and do it with no problem,,,,,,most of you do not even know what a letter carrier does, did you know that we have to sort our own mail, did you know that we have to tie out our mail into sections so that it is in order when we get to the streets, and if it wrong, we go in circles, did you know that when it is unsafe or inhumane to allow your pets to go outside on a extremely hot day or freezing cold day that the letter carriers have to go out, for four to six hours, with no break, or washrooms, wow, what about the rain, or the ice, or snow, i see most people that are complaining are those sitting inside in the heat or air conditioner, you mention macdonalds, or walmart, or an office job, well, you chose that, i chose canada post with it’s pension plan, and job security, now why should it be taken away from me, i have worked my butt off for you to bring you the mail each day, safe and secure, oh what about the day i had the mail stolen from someone who had a knife and wanted his check, ya sorry i did not keep it secure enough when my arm was sliced up, and did i mention that this winter was the first one in five years that i did not have a broken bone, or torn muscle or ligament because the people sitting inside could not clear their walkways, now you tell me if you like my job so much why are you not working with me, they have been hiring for the last ten years,,,,,,,,,instead of condemning me and being jealous of me, if you hate your life so much get of your butt and change it, and in the mean time i will fight for what i have whether you want me to or not
in the last post i forgot to mention that my route is ten miles long, 780 houses, and i carry fifty pounds on my shoulder going up and down 3796 stairs a day, who wants to go for a walk now
Did you know that sending mail from a Shoppers outlet is more expensive than sending from a regular Canada Post office? It’s a sinificant difference too, if you don’t print from paypal!
Back to the original question – I doubt if there is a strike it will affect me. I do everything online now. It would be nice to stop getting all the advertisements and junk mail. I do need to find out what is going to happen with my magazine subscriptions which they will probably extend for the length of the strike.
The few times I do mail things they are for people in the States and I just go across the line and mail it there because it is so much cheaper and faster than mailing from Canada.
You actually have counted how many steps you have to go up? For real?
no, it is part of the route messurement, when you sign up for a route they tell you how many steps, doors, turns, miles everything you have to walk in a day
sorry before someone calls me stupid, i meant measurement not messurement, i hit the wrong key
i am glad you guys are standing up for whats right 🙂 I am a unionist and i hate when i see people getting treated like garbage. If there is a nationwide strike i will be there in support. Most people just dont get barganing i sat at the table before people just dont see what goes on and how they belittle you. I hope you get what your looking for
@kturtle – you do realize delivering mail is not a 9-5 job?
personally, i couldn’t care less. I communicate with family via email/facebook/skype, our paychecks are automatically deposited with our pay stubs available online, I pay all of our bills online, I don’t receive any paper bills, I even do my taxes totally online, and we send electronic Christmas cards/Birthday cards – and yes, we even did our wedding invites via online. The ONLY thing that I utilize Canada Post for is to receive coupons. I work in a union and appreciate what my union does for me, BUT, mail delivery is becoming less necessary for many people. Understandably, something has to be done to lessen the cost of operating Canada post when less people are utilizing it. I don’t see this ending well for the employees.
The problem with a public sector strike is that the public is usually affected. Public sector strikes have an unfair advantage: the public they affect mounts pressure on the decision-makers and essentially gains a voice in the outcome. When private sector union-members go on strike, generally no one but the workers and their families really care.
Honestly I think they people commenting that work for Canada Post are not helping opinions AT ALL. Seriously, we all have woes about our jobs even though I have never counted how many steps I have taken daily that doesn’t mean you work harder then me. It doesn’t mean you work longer hours than me. You said it yourself, you CHOSE your job.
you asked someone at Shopper’s Drug Mart
Really
That is one of the places that are a franchise…they are not Canada Post
Too Funny on You
@sunday—-LOL know wonder that country is the way it is cause of your logic
I run a small online store as hobby, so I just put up a notice and close down temporarily. My friend runs a larger online store and he just switched all parcels to Fedex and it’s not like it’s costing that much more. He used to shop 50-50 with CP and Fedex but now since he’s increasing the volume, he’s getting a better discount rate with Fedex.
As for Canada Post wage, I think it’s fairly good. Although it max out at a certain level, but that’s still fairly good compared to normal jobs out in the market. A lot of people go through 4 years university and after working a few years we’re only making a bit more than the entry wage of CP. So what’s to complain about? At least it’s a secure job!
These posts makes feel very sad. We are in a recession and companies forces their employees to make concessions. Instead of demanding that the private sector match the salary of the public sector….and share their profits, we are asking the the public sector to match the private sector. We had became so used to being repressed by corporations that we expect others to suffer with us.
I do not have an on line business, but I buy a lot on line, so until this situation is not back to a 100% normal I won’t be buying anything else.
Note that I am not talking about rights to strike, fair wages, profit margin for business etc. because I do not exactly what is going on in both sides employers and employees or employee union to give my opinion regarding their issues. thank you
What quebe says is the employee side against employer side and customer side, now as a costumer I have a saying: my kids have delivered news papers every day counting Saturdays since they were 9 years old, it is a lot less hours, but it also is a lot less pay and no benefits at all, same seasons, same uncleared drive ways, same dogs, no special winter footwear and clothing wear provided by the company, no benefits, if they are late even a few minutes, angry ladies would be calling the newspaper to complain for the delay and then and angry coordinator would be calling to my house to nag at my kid because he couldn’t deliver on time because they had a dentist, doctor’s appointment or extracurricular activities or simply is sick.
What a customer could think when seeing some of these hard working adults delivering the mail, walking on the grass to shortcut a few steps that they know should be walking when they know they shouldn’t do this (same as my kids) or simply not delivering the mail specially Fridays and Mondays or Tuesdays when is a long weekend.
BTW I applied tens of times in different cities and times to the letter carrier position at Canada post and I did not even get and interview.
I consider a letter carrier with Canada Post a hard job, but a simple job, compared with many other jobs, but also a very well remunerated and compensated for what they have to do, including sorting mails and walking miles and miles every day, even breaking bones or torn a muscle or ligament? if you don’t believe that you are as well remunerated as you should be ask all these people who collect or read utilities consumption at household meters, gas meters, hydro meters, etc. who also walk and have to suffers as much as you letter carriers do? and don’t forget to ask my kids too.
I am just talking about similar jobs, I am not talking about other trades that get a lot worst than what you said, my dear quebe, for a lot less of what a letter carriers get and a lot more responsibilities too.
Thank you,
Only one customer’s point of view.
This is off topic but just curious. To the letter carriers: I know I couldn’t do your job, I have no doubt about it. I do not have that much energy on a good day. What I was surprised to read about was the injuries and wear and tear on the body. I always figured if I could make myself walk that much I’d be in great shape. I guess I romanticized the job a bit.
I order from Well.ca occasionally, and they usually use Canada Post. No one is home during the day at my house, and leaving the package is not practical, so I usually take my little notification slip across the street to the Can Post outlet to pick up my package. I never noticed when I ordered last week that they were using Purolator or UPS. When I miss these deliveries, I have to take an hour bus ride to the depot on the other side of the city to pick up my package. So, yes, the strike is affecting me! (And I love getting ANY mail!)
You can call and get a waiver for purolator or ups to leave parcels at your door 🙂 Or you can recall and reschedule, you do not have to go to the depot.
Was in the West Mall area of Toronto and yes, a porta-loo was on the City portion of the grass outside the Canada Post building. Does the union have to get a City permit for that unit?
Someone I know has still not received last month’s OAS cheque. I’d like to know where in the mailstream it is as OAS mailed the cheques. June 9 and no mail today.
My mail man has always delivered my freebies and will even put the mail in my door quietly as he knows my baby might be down for a nap. I actually speak to my postman and I think that if they don’t fight for pensions and good wages everyone will be making ten dollars a hour. Good jobs are hard to find and keep now a days.
@ Jelliebean – You must be one of the people spreading rumors about PO in SDM charging more than other PO.
Obviously you have no clue how postage price work. If you don’t know for fact, don’t talk like you do.
I laugh at the comments like “You said it yourself, you CHOSE your job.” or “At least it’s a secure job!”
That is the reason they are fighting so hard to keep it, because they did chose that as their career. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the job, it’s their job and they want and need to keep it. I don’t see Canada Post offering retraining for any of the postal workers. Many have been doing this job for decades, and without their job just what do you think they should do? Should employers not have some amount of respect for their employees, especially when they the fat cats at the top keep stuffing their pockets with profit?
Nothing in life is “secure”, and the present situation proves it!
I know that many of us have accepted the online world with open arms, but Canada does not revolve around you! There are a lot of people that still rely on the mail each and everyday!
If Walmart would allow its employees to unionize, I would support them wholeheartedly when fighting for their rights, better working conditions and benefits. Unfortunately, big businesses, such as Walmart, fight unions so that they don’t have to guarentee the rights that those in the public sectors have fought for (and trust me, we have had to fight). Take a look at how hard Walmart fought unions rather than provide for their employees. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_07/b3971115.htm
I do not believe that I am better than anyone else or deserve anything more than the person next to me. I believe that we all deserve to work towards a healthly pension, that we should all have health benefits beyond provincial care, that we should all have enough vacation time to maintain a pleasant life, and most of all, that we should all have a fair income.
What people don’t seem to realise is that ANY employee could work to form a union in their workplace (save perhaps those working on their own – but that route sacrifices some rights for other advantages). No, it wouldn’t be easy to form a union, but if equal rights is something that you feel strongly about it, then it is worth your time. I know it is easier to complain about everyone else rather than actually do something about it, but know, you do have choices. How to form a union: http://www.cupw.ca/index.cfm?ci_id=4830&la_id=1
Know where to direct your anger. It really shouldn’t be at the workers, the ones who work at the same level as you just in different fields. Unions fight the big businesses and upper management who often try to use and abuse their workers. Support one and an other and we will support you.
I do not have a union for my trade, I do have benefits (that I pay for), no sick days, no company pension, not many of the things that CP employees take for granted. In my profession, I must supply most of my own equipment, and if I had to replace all my tools, replacement value would be $70,000+ out of MY pocket. I pay for my own uniforms, I paid for my own 4 year course, and worked the THOUSANDS of hours apprenticeship required to get journeyman certification. I work in a non- A/C environment, and have frequently seen temps well above 40 C inside. I work with hazardous chemicals daily, many known carcinogens, extremely hot surfaces, as well as rotating parts, high voltage systems, and high pressure liquids. The technology involved in my trade changes constantly, requiring me to ugrade and train to keep up, all at my own expense. When the technology changes, so do the tooling requirements, which means I have to update/upgrade my tooling, again at my expense. I deal with components and systems that, if improperly serviced or repaired, can cause serious injury or death to the people operating them or those around them. I have been burnt, cut, chemically exposed, injured my back, knees, hands, slipped and fell, injured my eyes, as well as many other health issues from work.
Now, before someone says it, yes I did choose my trade, and I love my job. But when I hear the whining and complaining that “we don’t get paid enough” and “our job is dangerous” BS, it infuriates me. A letter carrier makes 40-60k per year (I looked it up). I have been in my trade for 17 years, and make somewhere in the middle of that, and I have far more expenses related to my work that I must personally pay for. I have a college education that is required for my trade, as well as some serious responsibilities that come with it, yet anyone can be a letter carrier and get 40-60k per year, plus gov’t benefits? Come do what I do, and wee will see how much you whine about your job after a week.
I rarely use the post Office except for parcel delivery on special occasions. Most things that would be first class are now direct deposit, paid online and/or looked up online. As long as my internet connections holds up I will be fine since most of my magazines are are also available online before I get the hard copy. Might be time to just buy the online versions. Postal workers have pretty cushy jobe with great pay for the education needed. Where else can you start at about $20 bucks an hour with no training.
Seen on letter boxes today -stickers with “no collection” in the Saturday part of the collection dates/times label.
I am concerned that Canada Post has had a focus on mental health fundraising through stamps and funding for services (for about 3 years and it’s a good cause) yet, it seems that management does not consider the mental health of its workers with the friction in the workplace.
I am a teacher. So – No comment. LOL
In my opinion….they are already overpayed……when I was 10 I used to have a paper route….papers had to get delivered every day, rain, snow or shine….I think I made about $70/month!! No benefits, no sick days, no pension…..I know of quite a few people making minimum wage that could do the job, and would love it…..A bag of mail doesn’t weight that much more than a bag of newspapers, and I could do it at age 10, so I don’t want to hear “it’s a hard job”.
And to quebe’s comment about “Wow, some of the comments on here are unbelievable, you think you can just walk into a letter carriers job and do it with no problem”….yes, yes I do think that.
I already have a great job that I love and am making more than a CP employee, I also have benefits…..BUT I also work MUCH harder…..I’m on my feet 10+ hours/day, using power tools + working on ladders and in the mud, snow, whatever….
There is less and less mail being sent everyday, and I for one am in favour of Privatized postal services. It’s fine if the employees want to keep their current wages, but expecting that no one will be laid off is absurd.
Dear Canada Post employees,
Keep what you have and ask for a reasonable wage increase to be done in the next three years, that is what I consider fair for all the benefits you already have and given the current financial circumstances of the country and globally, let the economy recover a little more. Wait for the next contract bargain agreement to ask for more and stop punishing everybody including yourselves, because I know it is stressful to be on the brink of a union strike.
Thanks
To be better informed, please read this article @: http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/06/10/time-to-send-a-message-to-canadas-postal-workers/.
Thanks
Dear Canada Post employees: All employers suck and don’t care about anything other than the bottom line. Welcome to workforce.
“had to start working for 14.00 an hour” — Oh Boo. Hoo.
Some jobs require years of education and skill, and are lucky to start at that level. Talk to a healthcare worker sometime and complain about how little you make, forced overtime, injuries and strain-related health problems. They’ll laugh in your face. Because they don’t have the right to strike, because they are an essential service. You don’t have sympathy from anyone in the general public — Canada Post and the TTC are considered the worst employees in this city. Perhaps I’d care more if I’d ever met any employee of CP who actually did their job, delivered their mail to the right addresses and didn’t “lose” packages, or accidentally “destroy” and envelope that contained tangible goods or some form of currency. It may not be all, it may not even be the majority — but I’ve yet to ever run into a single carrier who wasn’t a complete screw-up that didn’t care. I had a package delivered with taxes owing and had exact change and the a$$ swore at me because I didn’t TIP him. (The previous delivery I didn’t have exact change, and wouldn’t just hand over $20 for a $12 package so it went to the PO for pick up. Not the PO near me though. I had to take 2 subway lines to get to the office he dropped it off at.) I complained to CP and my next three packages were returned to sender undeliverable. I guess he was unionized and had seniority — because otherwise he wouldn’t have a friggin job.
I say contract out any and every government job that is running poorly, and running a deficit. If you want to keep your job, take the pay cut (which is what? TWICE minimum wage?) If not, there are thousands of people out there who would gladly do the work AND LIKE IT.
People are barely scraping by in today’s economy. And those who are waiting for assistance cheques, trying to run a business, or even just tax rebates or refunds, are going hungry and can’t pay their rent because you’re worried about future workers who don’t even work there? I hope you get everything you ask for at the bargaining table. Then I hope CP institutes a hiring freeze, continues the service cutbacks because of low volume and screws anyone with reduced hours out of getting any EI benefits. And they may as well put a moratorium on promotions, transfers and assignment or schedule changes.
Just go out on a full strike already so the government can force you back to work already.
Starting wage $19.00 an hour, full benefits and pension plan, unionized. Who wouldn’t JUMP at a job like that. They are NEVER happy. Postal rates go up and the rest of the country keeps paying these high wages. Costs of EVERYTHING goes up because of it. We keep paying. When will these people realize what they’ve got instead of screaming, “MORE, MORE, MORE”! It’s time for the government to step in and say, “Enough already!”
get back to wor@#$%R^TF
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