Lethbridge postal workers hit the picket line as national strike gets underway

Postal workers are striking for the second time in less than a year. This time, their union takes issue with plans to scale back services.

Lethbridge- For the second time in less than year, Lethbridge postal workers are once again picketing outside the main downtown branch.

Workers are frustrated to be off the job but feel they have no choice.

“We just want to be fair. We’re a Crown corporation; we’re for the people. That’s why we do our job. We all love our jobs. We all want to go back to work, none of us want to strike,” said Troy Tailfeathers, CUPW Local 770 president.

The issue this time isn’t pay or working conditions but potential changes in operations.

Yesterday, Canada Post announced plans to end door-to-door delivery and lifted a moratorium on closing rural post offices.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers announced a nationwide strike hours later.

“It kind of came out of nowhere when the minister came on and announced what he announced,” said Tailfeathers. “The cutbacks and all this, in that there was no consult or nothing.

“They just came up and did that,” Tailfeathers added. “And within an hour and a half we had shut down and we’re back on strike again just for that reason.”

Blow for local businesses

It’s a blow for local businesses who dealt with delays and increased shipping costs during the last strike.

This strike coming with little notice at the end of the month is causing headaches.

Many businesses will now need to pay employees or bills by hand.

“From a small business perspective, we rely on getting those cheques in the mail, as I need to now hand-deliver a bunch of cheques today,” said Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, Cyndi Crane.

“But even from those people whose driver’s licences are in the post right now, there’s so many different levels where we rely on our postage service.”

Postal changes

The operational changes announced by Canada Post are meant to save money after the corporation posted a $407-million second-quarter loss.

Canada Post published a statement on their website following the strike that says “we’re disappointed that the union chose to escalate their strike activity, which will further deteriorate Canada Post’s financial situation.”

No new mail will be accepted during the strike.

The union has agreed to once again deliver welfare cheques during labour dispute.