As the Canada Post strike involving more than 55,000 workers neared the end of its 25th day, the postal service warned that a speedy resolution is unlikely.
In a statement Monday, Canada Post said the latest proposals from the union widen the gap between the two parties.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers provided details on those demands Monday. They include wage increases, a cost of living allowance, and more job protections.
The union said in a bulletin to members that it91裸聊视频檚 calling on Canada Post to seriously consider its proposals, adding that the latest proposal includes demands voted on by members across the country.
The strike began Nov. 14, and federal mediation was put on hold nearly two weeks ago due to the sides being too far apart.
Calls for government intervention have been mounting from the business community, but so far the government has said it91裸聊视频檚 not stepping in.
The federal government has intervened in other high-profile labour disputes recently by advising the labour board to order binding arbitration.
In the meantime, backlogs and frustration mount acrosse the country
It91裸聊视频檚 been almost two weeks since Darren Solomon had a working fridge. The appliance91裸聊视频檚 compressor conked out on Nov. 26 and he91裸聊视频檚 been waiting for a replacement part ever since.
The supplier he spoke with last month said the company typically receives LG components within a day.
91裸聊视频淒ay 1 passes, nothing. Day 2 passes, nothing. Day 3 passes, nothing.91裸聊视频�
The service company could not even provide him with a tracking number, said Solomon, who lives with his family in Richmond Hill, Ont.
91裸聊视频淭hey said, 91裸聊视频業t91裸聊视频檚 the Canada Post strike.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
The delay has forced the Solomons to throw out food and pay for takeout almost daily.
91裸聊视频淲e have someone in the house with an eating disorder, and this has totally broken their routine. It91裸聊视频檚 really thrown them off,91裸聊视频� said Solomon.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 frustrating and it91裸聊视频檚 infuriating.91裸聊视频�
As delivery backlogs build along with holiday angst, wait times and shipping rates continue to grow for consumers and businesses dealing with the fallout from the Canada Post work stoppage.
The Crown corporation91裸聊视频檚 shutdown meant that millions of Canadians who receive or send parcels via Canada Post in the lead-up to Christmas have had to turn elsewhere.
In the weeks leading up to Dec. 25, Canada Post typically receives close to double its daily parcel volume.
The Crown corporation says it handled 296 million parcels over the course of 2023, or nearly 811,000 per day, making up 29 per cent of the parcel market. That91裸聊视频檚 a big hole for private operators to plug.
The spillover to other shipping companies has proven too much for many to bear.
Purolator, UPS, FedEx and Canpar Express are among the major carriers to implement multi-day pauses on shipments from smaller courier companies, according to a client notice from one of them 91裸聊视频� eShipper 91裸聊视频� obtained by The Canadian Press. Those platforms handle shipments for tens of thousands of small businesses, which rely on the couriers to secure lower rates than the mom-and-pop shops could get individually.
The temporary halt has caused backlogs throughout the delivery chain.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e actually refusing business,91裸聊视频� said Timothy Byrnes, director of parcel delivery firm Jet Worldwide. 91裸聊视频淵ou get double the volume, but four times the problems.91裸聊视频�
FedEx has also introduced a temporary limit of five packages per drop-off at its retail locations and launched a new late-night shift at some hubs to increase sorting capacity, the company said in an email.
With delivery demand surging, consumers and small businesses have little choice other than to opt for a pricier carrier and endure delays or hold off on sending packages altogether.
Shipping rates for individual packages are often far costlier than the product itself, said Byrnes.
91裸聊视频淲e work with a company that sells matcha tea products from Japan. We help them with the import,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淪he contacted us saying, 91裸聊视频楬ey, can you help with shipments to the U.S.?91裸聊视频� They normally use Canada Post. We didn91裸聊视频檛 even give her a rate: 91裸聊视频業91裸聊视频檓 telling you, it91裸聊视频檚 not going to be low enough.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
The higher cost of private carriers 91裸聊视频� especially during peak holiday shopping season 91裸聊视频� is rarely taken on by shippers alone.
91裸聊视频淐onsumers are also seeing those delivery costs being passed on to them,91裸聊视频� said Sinead Gleason, Equifax Canada91裸聊视频檚 commercial solutions analyst.
Meanwhile, lag times continue to lengthen. In some rural or remote areas, even delayed shipments are out of reach, since only Canada Post serves farther-flung parts of the country.
91裸聊视频淎 friend of mine lives in a very rural area. She likes to support small and local businesses. And she has had conversations back and forth about the fact they can91裸聊视频檛 deliver to her,91裸聊视频� Gleason said.
91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 had to cancel orders.91裸聊视频�
