MONTREAL, Quebec—Canadian postal workers began new rotating strikes in Montreal, Winnipeg, and six
other places Nov. 15, the day after Canada Post gave their union a “time-limited” contract offer. Canada Post proposed a four-year contract with wage increases of 2% a year, signing bonuses of up to $1,000, and compensation to rural carriers—if the Canadian Union of Postal Workers accepted it before Nov. 17, in time for the Black Friday holiday-shopping rush Nov. 23. The offer gives a glimmer of hope that Canada Post is listening to workers’ demands and concerns, but the protests will continue, Lise-Lyne Gélineau, head of the CUPW’s Montreal local, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The union is still seeking reduced overtime and more job security for part-time workers. Jamie Hall, a sorting-center worker on a predawn picket line in the city’s Saint-Laurent section, was more pessimistic. “Always be suspicious when a corporation wants to just hand you lump sums of money,” she said. “There is a lot of stuff in that deal that is not good for the workers.” The offer came the day after eBay’s Canadian manager urged the government “to explore all available legislative solutions” to end the strikes. Read more
