Postal worker strike affecting businesses, charities in Halifax
Striking postal workers are back on the picket lines Tuesday, calling for better treatment and working conditions.
“What we want is fair wages, safer working conditions, the right to retire and dignity,” says Dwayne Corner, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) local president. “We didn't want to choose to go on strike.”
Mail stopped flowing on Friday when 55,000 workers coast-to-coast walked-off the job after negotiations failed.
United Way Maritimes marketing director, Deborah Page, says the timing couldn’t be worse.
“It's a difficult time of year for this to take place,” says Page.
That's because charities and non-profits rely heavily on the holiday season to secure funds that help them and their clients through the winter.
“We would normally send information to our donors as reminders at this point in terms of donations, which is why we're pivoting to using social media and email and phoning people,” says Page.
“The United Way does receive some donations by mail, but most of our donations are made online.”
The interrupted flow of mail is affecting businesses too.
All of our payables, receivables, anything that was small and in an envelope essentially we sent through Canada Post,” says Lawrence Conrad.
Conrad is the director of a security company. He says he's been able to deliver some of his parcels himself but has turned to other companies for the majority of his needs.
“The situation now where that service is not available and we have pivoted to using essentially their competition and other means of getting the things that we need on a daily basis,” says Conrad.
Canada Post and its workers are now in day two of discussions with a special mediator appointed by the federal government in hopes of finding some common ground between the two sides.
“We're hoping that we'll hear something by the end of the day to say that there has been some progress or some status update,” says Corner.
Corner adds the memberships resolve is strong and they are determined to get what they feel is a fair contract.
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Calgary doctor charged with sexual assault of multiple patients
A Calgary doctor is facing charges after allegedly sexually assaulting four patients.
Two undersea cables in Baltic Sea disrupted, sparking warnings of possible ‘hybrid warfare’
Two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea have been suddenly disrupted, according to local telecommunications companies, amid fresh warnings of possible Russian interference with global undersea infrastructure.
Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out, according to new study
Sitting at your desk all day may put you at greater risk for heart disease –– even if you work out in your spare time, according to new research.
'Embarrassed': NDP MP calls on Randy Boissonnault to resign over false Indigenous claims
A Métis member of Parliament is calling on the employment minister to resign over what he calls harmful false claims to Indigenous ancestry.
Armed and barricaded person in Barrie, Ont., immediate area evacuated
Barrie police are on the scene of an ongoing investigation in the area of Bayfield Street and Heather Street.
Swiftie's friendship bracelet beads confiscated at Calgary airport
A Canadian Taylor Swift fan has some 'Bad Blood' with the Calgary International Airport after security staff confiscated hundreds of dollars worth of beads she was going to use to make friendship bracelets.
Trump chooses TV doctor Mehmet Oz to lead Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday tapped Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former television talk show host and heart surgeon, to head the agency that oversees health insurance programs for millions of older, poor and disabled Americans.
'I'm just tickled pink': Two childhood friends from New Brunswick named Rhodes Scholars
Two young women from New Brunswick have won one of the most prestigious and sought-after academic honours in the world.
Anonymous male celebrity files extortion lawsuit against attorney representing Sean 'Diddy' Combs accusers
An anonymous male celebrity says he is the victim of an extortion scheme and is suing a high-powered Texas attorney who is representing several people in civil lawsuits that accuse Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault.