REGINA — Picket lines dotted Saskatchewan Drive outside the Canada Post building in Regina on Friday, as Canada Post workers went on strike.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers walked off the job Thursday evening in response to proposed government changes to Canada Post, including a reduction in delivery days.
Canada Post service ground to a halt Friday, with drivers on Saskatchewan Drive noticing the long line of workers holding picket signs or waving flags.
Morgan Jansen, president of CUPW local 820 in Regina, spoke of the reaction of his union members to what has transpired.
"Right now the workers are still in shock and very surprised over what's happened here, although it's kind of inevitable when the government comes in and does all the heavy lifting for the corporation and the corporation doesn't negotiate at all," said Jansen.
"There's no will. They haven't been in there in two and a half years, but they're not going to come now. The government will just continue to do all the work for them and it's unfortunate and all we want is just for them to come to the table and negotiate. Let's have a contract."
Jansen is hoping management will still come to the table. "Hopefully either we're arbitrated or in a great world that we would have an agreement signed by next week."
As for the impact a strike will have, Jansen has a dim outlook.
"Negatively for the membership, of course, you know, we're going to be a little bit lost wages. I believe Canada Post is probably going to cut people's benefits, short-term disability and all that because Canada Post loves to just play dirty. So we're expecting that to come down the pipeline soon.
"As far as our customers go, we are extremely upset over the cuts that are coming and especially with the rural towns and everything. Essentially, the government and Canada Post are saying that they're just not valued at all anymore and too bad, so sad. You just aren't valuable enough to get service and we are standing against that because we think every Canadian deserves service."
While postal workers are on the picket line, Jansen says that any members of the public can "always come down and chat with us. We're a friendly bunch. We get along well with everyone and we just want everyone to get good service and to get their mail, get their parcels. We want to work and, you know, it's Canada Post and the government that's preventing us from doing that."
– With files from Denis Conroy
