Unionized postal workers on the picket lines in Chatham-Kent are blaming stalled negotiations and the ongoing mail delays on their employer, claiming it hasn't delivered an acceptable contract yet.
Urban and rural mail carriers, along with other Canada Post workers across the municipality walked off the job early Wednesday morning as part of rotating strikes by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
"We're not trying to punish the public of course," said Jeremy Suitor, President of Local 514. "The union is trying to get the point across to Canada Post that negotiating needs to occur. That it has not come to the table with a fair offer, and they know they can do better."
Suitor said they've been negotiating for almost a year and not much progress has been made.
"All they've done recently is stall and refuse to discuss our major issues, which are health and safety, gender equality, and preserving the good full-time jobs that we have now," said Suitor.
In response to similar claims by the union, Canada Post said it "remains committed to the bargaining process" adding that it 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."
Suitor said those aren't the only issues at stake, though, he added the union is also fighting to expand the services they offer.
"Simple things like postal banking, grocery delivery, and something as simple as checking in on seniors," said Suitor. "It's been used in other countries, and they've been proven to be very viable, and that's how the union looks to move this business forward."
The rotating strikes are now into their third week.