Postal Workers' Strike Raises Awareness of Rural Office Closures
Babe Seguin, president of Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) local chapter 738, told Energeticcity.ca that postal workers in the Peace region have been striking daily since September. Their goal is to raise awareness of potential closures of rural post offices.
Shift to Rotating Strikes
The strikes have transitioned from daily job actions to rotating strikes, but this change has not weakened the message from the workers in the region, according to Seguin.
Post Offices at Risk
- Altona
- Buick
- Cecil Lake
- Charlie Lake
- Clayhurst
- Montney
- Prespatou
- Rose Prairie
- Tumbler Ridge
- Retail offices in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John
These offices, previously protected by a moratorium, could be closed following proposed mail service cutbacks.
Canada Post's Response
Canada Post’s media department stated that "Lightbound has given the service 45 days to outline a plan to implement a series of measures presented by the federal government in early September."
The plan involves prioritizing service, proceeding carefully to minimize public impact, treating employees with respect, keeping the public informed, and adapting to the evolving needs of Canadians using the postal service.
Author's Summary
The rotating strikes by Peace region postal workers highlight growing concerns about rural post office closures and pressure Canada Post to respond with a careful service plan.