Sunday, November 18, 2018
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
The labour strike by Canada Post workers rolled in like a lamb on October 22 with rotating strikes spread out across the country. But now it’s roaring like a lion, impacting the Christmas season for all Canadians (see Editorial).
And while the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) President makes it sound unintentional that the strike is happening right in the heat of the Christmas holiday mailing season (not to mention the same period as the BC Electoral Reform Referendum mail-in ballot period), he essentially legitimizes the economically and socially damaging timing by saying that Canada Post has known about the union’s concerns and issues “for years”.
Negotiations have stalled, as the midnight November 17 deadline came and went. CUPW members were not even asked to vote on the Crown corporation’s current offering. Canada Post said November 17 was its cut-off point for being able to afford (in terms of lucrative holiday season revenues) the increases that are being requested by CUPW.
The Canadian Postal Workers Union (CUPW) is asking for a 2.9% annual increase for their workers (so that it is “not below inflation”; Canada Post has offered 2.0%. The union wants double-pay for a sixth or seventh day worked in a row; Canada Post has offered overtime for over 40 hours. CUPW wants more benefits for part time workers; Canada Post says it would hire 500 more full-time employees in the coming year.
It’s entirely likely that the mail slowdown and backlog due to the postal strike has affected delivery of Electoral Reform Referendum ballots to Elections BC in Victoria. In fact, of all possible locations across the country, CUPW started their rotating strike on October 22 in Victoria — the same day that ballots were issued. As of November 16, there was a return of 18% of ballots to Elections BC (7.9% of those processed into the counting system).
West Shore Voice News is awaiting word back from Canada Post in Ottawa as to an estimated number of ballot packages that are still sitting in Canada Post delivery system, undelivered to Elections BC. As well, an estimate of how many ballots have not reached voters by mail, and whether Canada Post set a priority on moving ballots along to voters and Elections BC.
There has been mention that the deadline for returning ballots to Elections BC might be extended due to the strike, but for now the deadline is still 4:30 pm on Friday, November 30 to see that your ballot reaches Elections BC.
Eligible voters who haven’t received a voting package can ask for one: • Online: www.elections.bc.ca/ovr • By phone: 1-800-661-8683 (Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-4pm) • In person: At a Service BC Centre or Referendum Service Office www.elections.bc.ca/rso
Completed voting packages can also be returned in person at a Service BC Centre or Referendum Service Office. In Victoria there are two offices: 100-1112 Fort St, and 403-771 Vernon Ave in Gateway Village in Saanich. Both are open 8:30 to 4:30, Mon to Fri.
Also see the November 16, 2018 West Shore Voice News editorial on this topic: Parcels for Christmas and resolving labour disputes