Workers' safety key concern for northern Canada Post workers who spend hours walking in cold

Canada Post workers in the north took to the picket lines Friday, joining colleagues across the country in striking. 

On Tuesday, workers gave Canada Post 72 hours' notice ahead of the strike, which has now shut down the company's operations. Canada Post will not deliver mail or parcels, and some post offices will be closed for the duration of the strike.

The walkout happened after the union couldn't reach a negotiated agreement with the employer over wages, expansion of services and worker safety. 

The strike affects 55,000 workers nationwide, according to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Canada Post has confirmed with CBC that it was still negotiating with the union as of midday Friday. 

The company says it is in a dire financial position and has warned that a strike will only make it worse. Canada Post's latest contract offer included annual wage increases that amounted to 11.5 per cent over four years. It also offered protection of the defined benefit pension for current employees, as well as job security and health benefits.

Worker safety is of particular concern in the North, according to Whitehorse CUPW president Mac Clohan. 

Canada Post is asking letter carriers across the country to increase the time they spend walking outside from six to eight hours. Clohan said that could be dangerous. 

"If you're delivering mail in 30 below on ice covered streets and you have to walk around for eight hours a day, that's a very serious imposition to put a lot of letter carriers through," he said.

Strike happening during 'peak season'

The strike comes at a time when many northerners send and receive parcels ahead of the holiday season. This time of year is "peak season," according to Keith Ellert, vice president of the Whitehorse CUPW.

Fred Behrens, the senior administrative officer in Wekweètì, N.W.T., said the strike is cause for concern in many small communities.

"Most residents in small communities rely on Canada Post for a lot of stuff," Behrens said . "If an individual needs their prescription drugs, that's all shipped in by Canada Post in most cases. It will definitely be challenging, especially if it's going to be a long term strike."

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority told CBC in an email that it itself does not rely on Canada Post as its primary shipping service for pharmacies and warehouses. Instead, it uses trucking companies and airlines. It added that it will work with its vendors that do use Canada Post to provide alternate transportation as needed.

The strike will not affect anyone receiving benefit cheques in the mail, including the Canada Child Benefit, Old Age Security and the Canada Pension Plan. Purolator, which operates under a different union, will not be delivering packages that come from with Canada Post during the strike. 

In the N.W.T., the strike shoudn't affect the delivery of territorial benefits such as income assistance and the seniors' home heating subsidy, said Briony Grabke, public affairs and communications manager for the department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Grabke wrote that the department is "implementing alternate plans" so benefits aren't delayed. Some options for recipients include direct deposit or picking up their check in person.

In the Yukon, Canada Post workers are prepared to be on the picket line for as long as it takes to reach a negotiated agreement, Clohan said. Workers who take to the picket line for four hours per day will receive $56.20. 

"It's not a lot," Clohan said. "It's a big hit to be out here."