‘You Have to Hope’: Postal Workers on Picket Line React as Ottawa Moves to End Strike

Sharif Hassan, The Canadian Press

In Toronto, dozens of Canada Post workers gathered outside a delivery center in the east end, expressing a mix of frustration, disappointment, and hope as the federal government took steps to end their nearly month-long strike.

Workers clad in yellow jackets turned to their phones to find the latest details regarding the government’s announcement, which was set to affect approximately 55,000 employees. Meanwhile, some blustered around a small fire they had lit for warmth amidst the freezing temperatures.

Kirk Gonnsen, a postal worker, shared his feelings about the situation. Although he felt let down that a new collective agreement wasn't achieved, he expressed relief knowing that his colleagues, who have been struggling financially, would soon be returning to work and receiving paychecks. “It’s unfortunate that this is the resolution we came to,” he stated. “But I am happy that people, my colleagues who are suffering, are going to be able to go back to work and earn some money.”

At a press conference in Ottawa, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon mentioned that the Crown corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers had reached an “impasse.” This situation led the federal government to step in and ask the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order workers back to their jobs. MacKinnon also proposed extending their current contract until next May, given that a new agreement could not be finalized by the end of the year.

The government’s decision triggered objections from the union, which had initiated the strike on November 15, branding the government's move an “assault” on the rights of workers. Outside in Toronto, many workers voiced their belief that Canada Post had not actively engaged in good faith negotiations, an accusation that the corporation has denied.

Union member Helen Karrandjas articulated her disappointment in being told to return to work without a satisfactory agreement in place. “We work hard. We deserve a living wage, and it looks like Canada Post’s upper management is not willing to negotiate,” she argued.

Another union member, Gerard Van Deelen, viewed the inquiry into the negotiations as an interesting step. “Now we are going to have a commission, and then back to negotiations. I can only hope the commission finds something about management’s unwillingness to budge an inch,” he said.

Denise Caster shared that while she and her colleagues always hoped to go back to work, they wished to do so after securing a fair deal. “All they want to do is take away from us. They claim that we are being greedy and that we want too much. We only want what is fair,” she remarked. “I guess we will have to wait until May to see what is going to happen with that.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on December 13, 2024.

postal, workers, strike