Since midnight on Friday November 15, Canada Post letter carriers have been on strike, as no agreement establishing new working conditions has been reached after months of negotiations. The subject inspired this week's poll question for the Néomédia team.

Earlier this week, the union representing letter carriers served 72 hours' strike notice on management. The latter responded with a lock-out notice that would begin at 8 a.m. this Friday, on the eve of Fou Vendredi and the holiday season.

This labour dispute concerns Canada Post's rural and urban employees. Mail delivery is affected as of this weekend. The employees' union and Canada Post have been negotiating the terms of a new collective agreement for nearly a year.

In a press release available for consultation on its website, it is stated that the “ new proposals protect and enhance what is important to CUPW-represented staff, including offering higher wage increases, while responding to the challenges facing the country's postal service.”

It also states that “ The negotiations come at a critical time for Canada Post, as the Corporation continues to face significant financial and operational delivery challenges in the highly competitive parcel delivery market. In the first six months of 2024, Canada Post recorded an operating loss of $490 million. Since 2018, the company has lost more than $3 billion.”

Proposals tabled with the employer by the Union include the following:

- Annual wage increases of 11.5% over four years (compounded at 11.97%).

- Protection of the defined-benefit pension plan for current employees, as well as their job security and benefits.

- Ongoing salary protection against unforeseen inflation.

- Enhanced leave entitlements for current employees.

- Transition to an hourly rate of pay for staff represented by the RSFF unit.

- Support for CUPW's proposal to merge the RSFF unit with the Urban unit.

This week, in connection with this labour dispute, we ask you: Are you concerned that the Canada Post strike will jeopardize your holiday shopping?

The choices are:

- Yes, I buy all my gifts online and have them delivered to my home;

- Yes, for some of them;

- Yes, but I'm ready to live with it;

- Yes, but I'm optimistic that it will be resolved quickly;

- No, I don't buy gifts over the Internet;

What do you think? Answer our survey question via this link.