Protest for postal workers draws 85 people
More than 85 protesters gathered outside MP Matt DeCourcey’s office on Dec. 1 to protest the new back-to-work law that imposes fines on postal workers if they go on strike.
Fredericton was one of 20 cities in Canada where protests took place.
Protesters stood at the corners of Carleton and Queen Street and chanted, “All I want for Christmas is the right to strike, the right to strike, the right to strike,” at passing vehicles.
They carried signs that read “Out for Fairness,” “Honk for Postal Workers,” and “Fight for the Right to Strike.”
They also wrote “We’ll be back” on the sidewalk in chalk.
How it began
The postal strikes began on Oct. 22. Negotiations between the union representing postal workers, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, and the government have been ongoing since January. CUPW is pushing for job security, better health and safety measures, improved pay for rural and suburban carriers and the elimination of forced overtime.
The back to work legislation – or Bill C-89 – was passed on Nov. 24 by a vote of 166 to 43.
George Nickerson, CUPW president for Fredericton-Oromocto local, said he’s angry about the back to work legislation.
“I’m a postal worker and they’re taking away our rights – and not just our rights – everybody’s rights in the country, every workers’ rights in this country has been compromised because of this legislation,” Nickerson said.
Mike Palecek, president of CUPW, was also outraged at the proposal of the bill.
“It’s another violation of our constitutional rights. Free collective bargaining is a Charter right in this country and it’s time the governments respect it,” said Palecek in an interview with CBC News.
The former Conservative government passed back to work legislation in 2011 for Canada Post workers. However, the legislation was found unconstitutional in 2016 because it violated workers’ freedom of expression and association – rights guaranteed under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Delivery Backlog
The strikes have also meant that parcel delivery is backlogged. Nearly six million packages are awaiting delivery.
The backlog has meant some are turning away from online shopping.
A study of 1,5000 Canadians by the marketing firms Leger and DIG360 found that people are heading back to stores rather than shopping online. The study said people are worried their holiday gifts may not arrive on time. According to the study, 27 per cent of people stopped shopping online as a result of the Canada Post strikes.
Approximately one million packages arrive in Canada every day, with the weeks leading up to Christmas being the busiest. Canada Post said it could take weeks to clear the backlog.
Canada Post also asked its international partners on Nov. 16 to stop sending packages because of the ongoing strike and subsequent delivery backlog.
But Nickerson, who attended the Fredericton protest on Dec. 1, said the support New Brunswick postal workers have received from the community since the strikes started has been incredible.
“The labour council has always been a good friend to postal workers and to see all of the unions out it’s really good to see that people are taking this seriously.”
“Obviously we want the government to rethink the legislation – I’m not holding out much hope that that will happen – but I think this is just going to let people know that it’s coming to a point where [postal workers are] not going to be able to do this anymore,” Nickerson said.
