7 New Brunswick communities hit by Canada Post strike

At least 150 Canadian Union of Postal Workers members took to the picket line on Wednesday in Fredericton as the union continues to fight for a new contract with Canada Post. 

George Nickerson, the president of the CUPW Fredericton-Oromocto local, said it was Fredericton's turn to participate following rotating strikes in Moncton and Saint John. 

Canada Post employees in seven New Brunswick communities are off the job on Wednesday morning. This is a part of a rotating strike strategy by the CUPW, who have been without contracts for almost a year.

Canada Post announced the strike overnight and communities and regions affected include:

• Fredericton
• Acadie Bathurst
• Campbellton
• Edmundston
• Miramichi
• St. Stephen
• Woodstock

This means there will be no delivery service, mail or parcel pickup in those areas.

Nickerson said he believes the strike in these areas will only last a day but could be up to three days like in Moncton. 

Moncton and Saint John, the only two locations not on the picket line today, were on strike over the weekend, Nickerson said. He said Saint John is sending a few people to Fredericton to show support. 

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This is the second time in almost two weeks that Canada Post employees have gone on strike in New Brunswick. At the end of October, employees in Saint John were also part of the rotating strike across Canada.

The strike has shut down Canada Post operations in more than 100 communities across the country since Oct. 22.

The union, which has more than 50,000 members across the country, is pushing for improved job security, an end to forced overtime and better health and safety measures.

Nickerson said the safety for postal workers is the most important thing for him when it comes to issues on the bargaining table.

"We're getting injured," he said.

"It's a dangerous job we're doing here these days." 

Canada Post said in a statement it remains committed to the bargaining process. 

"The corporation has made significant offers to CUPW that include increased wages, job security, and improved benefits, and it has not asked for any concessions in return," the Crown corporation said in a statement. 

"We value the relationship with the union and have been able to find common ground on some issues."

Negotiations between the union and the government started in November 2017, while mediated talks started in January.