Canada Post strikes hit Toronto and 17 other cities in southern Ontario: CUPW

The Canada Post rotating strikes have hit the country's largest processing centre in Toronto for a second time in three weeks as workers in 17 other Ontario communities walked off the job just after midnight.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says 4,500 Canada Post employees joined picket lines in Toronto at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

CUPW says that was before workers in Chatham, Clinton, Georgetown, Milton, Orangeville, Port Hope, Stratford, Strathroy, Tillsonburg, Wingham, Woodstock, Belleville, Cornwall, Kingston, Brockville, Napanee and Lindsay walked off the job early Wednesday.

Canada Post says in a statement that the union continues to escalate their strike activity, adding more communities each day and shutting down major processing centres for extended periods.

Toronto facilities were shut down by the union for two consecutive days in October.

Canada Post says there is no indication when that strike will end, adding it will worsen backlogs in mail or parcel deliveries across the country.