Postal Strike

Tonight snail mail will become even slower as Canadian postal workers go on strike. As of midnight the Canadian Union of Postal Workers will begin a series of 24-hour strikes starting in Winnipeg.

The union has been in contract talks with Canada Post for over seven months but has not reached an agreement. On Monday, they gave the required 72 hours notice for a strike.

The union is demanding increases in wages as well as upgrades to sick leave and pensions. Currently a starting postal worker makes $23 an hour.

President and CEO of Canada Post Deepak Chopra has called the union’s demands “out of touch.” Canada Post faces a declining letter business as well as a deficit of $3.2 billion. He says the Internet is a big reason for the drop in business.

The last time postal workers went on strike was 1997. After two weeks the strike was ended by federal legislation.