Heather Wright/The Independent

Expect to see picketlines at the Petrolia Canada Post office this week.

Mail and package delivery has ground to a halt Friday as CUP-W’s 55,000 workers across the country walked off the job due to back contract demands.

Canada Post then locked the workers out.

The strike is affecting businesses across the country.

“Neither Canada Post nor the Canadian economy can afford for this to continue. When will our politicians admit that the present system isn’t working and fix it?” said Perrin Beatty, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on social media.

Charities are also worried about the stoppage. 

“This is heartbreaking timing. So much of what we do in the non-profit/charity world depends on how much money we can raise in the next six weeks,” said Sam Laparde, a fundraising consultant. She urged people to consider online donations.

There was support for the work stoppage from other unions across the country, including the National Farmers Union which issued a statement saying rural communities depend on reliable postal service, as a right and not a privilege. 

“Canada Post is more equitable, affordable, and reliable than private alternatives, especially for rural and remote areas. Its employees deserve proper wages, working conditions, and benefits for the work that they do,” said NFU Board Member Matthew Wiens.

“While the strike is disruptive, the long-term impact of not having a well functioning Canada Post would be far greater. A negotiated settlement to this dispute will strengthen rural postal service,” said Wiens.

So far, CUP-W workers in Lambton have been picketing at Canada Post’s main station in Sarnia. However sources tell The Independent, rural workers will begin setting up picketlines at the Petrolia office Wednesday. 

Some of the workers will also be travelling their routes this week, delivering government cheques as required by their contract.

At The Independent, where the weekly newspaper is delivered by Canada Post workers, subscribers were being urged to pick up their edition at one of more than a dozen locations across the county. The Independent has partnered with local businesses, libraries and municipal governments, who have allowed us to place our newspapers in their spaces for pickup by our subscribers.

If you were unable to receive your newspaper this week, please contact our office at 226-738-0728 for alternative delivery. 

Negotiations between Canada Post and CUP-W are continuing.