People representing the Canadian Union of Postal Workers held a rally in Diana Krall Plaza in Nanaimo on Saturday, showing local support during a national postal strike. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

postal strike

‘It’s been very challenging:’ resolve strong amongst striking Nanaimo & Oceanside postal workers

Dec 7, 2024 | 12:40 PM

NANAIMO — Local Canada Post workers in the fourth week of a nationwide strike are hoping a quick resolution can be found.

Both the Crown corporation and roughly 55,000 Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) members remain at odds, and reportedly very far apart, in negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement.

Members of CUPW Local 786, representing roughly 250 Canada Post workers from Chemainus to Bowser held a rally in downtown Nanaimo on Saturday, Dec. 7, showing local support to a nationwide situation.

“It’s the approach that the corporation is taking country-wide,” Shane Lorenz, local president, told NanaimoNewsNOW. “They’re eliminating jobs and they’re wanting workers to make less money, have less benefits and not have a pension they know they’re going to receive. It’s an approach to every worker that works for Canada Post, and there’s 55,000 of us.”

Lorenz said “we’re all being attacked” when asked whether there were issues specific to the central Vancouver Island region.

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Workers across the country walked off the job on Nov. 15, immediately stopping any deliveries, accepting of new items or further processing of mail already in the system.

Both sides remain at odds around central issues such as wages, benefits and delivery schedules.

Federal mediation was attempted, however the assigned mediator suspended talks as the two sides were too far apart.

Wages, benefits and delivery schedules are among the key sticking points during negotiations in Ottawa. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

“I’m disappointed with mediators not putting more pressure on,” Lorenz said. “Canada Post just released another offer a couple of days ago and from what I’m understanding from our national offices, this offer was actually worse than their first offer.”

Lorenz said over the last 25 years, workers have gone on strike three times but have been legislated back to work each time, a tactic he said “Canada Post relies on.”

He added this situation has obviously caused some collateral damage.

“It’s been very challenging for everybody and we understand our customers and small businesses are hurting too. That was never our intention but unfortunately Canada Post isn’t bargaining fairly at the table, they’re just playing games.”

Local postal worker Becky Sargeant said despite challenges, resolve remains strong.

“It’s always hard. We have a lot of families, some are single parents and we have families that are single incomes…we have people that have tried to save but we didn’t think it was going to go this long. We’ve also talked on the picket lines and we’re helping each other whether it be with food, bills or just moral support.”

Picket lines are established at major processing centres in Nanaimo along East Wellington Rd., as well as offices on Terminal Ave. in Nanaimo.

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