Multiple sectors feeling crunch caused by Canada Post strike

More than 55,000 workers with Canada Post remain on the picket lines for the 25th consecutive day.

The strike, which began on Nov. 14, has caused issues for residents and businesses across Canada during the busiest time of year for mail service. Backlogs have piled up for other carrier services amidst the strike, meaning many people won’t be getting their packages for Christmas this year.

For small businesses, the holiday season sales help get them though the quiet months to come. The work stoppage has impacted the ability to ship merchandise to customers, among other issues.

Fraser Wells, chair for the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce, says the timing of the strike couldn’t be worse for them.

“While there's a lot of excitement associated with the holidays, there's also a lot of stress for those folks that are trying to get gifts at the 11th hour,” Wells says. “Ultimately it's created a little bit of additional stress on top of what would normally be a stressful period through a strike, just based on that time of year that it's happening.”

He says businesses have adapted where they can. One way is by asking customers to shop in store when possible to avoid shipping concerns.

He has not heard of any businesses in the area laying off staff or closing their doors because of the ongoing labour dispute. He says after dealing with pandemic-related issues for a number of years, businesses cannot afford another long-standing disruption to postal services.

“These are people that pour their heart, their soul into operating these businesses at margins that, like I said, are pretty skinny as it is,” says Wells. “You put this added burden on and it makes it of course, it makes it really challenging.”

Wells says non-profits are also voicing strike concerns.

Jennifer Yeomans, chief development officer for the YMCA chapter in Southwestern New Brunswick, says the final month of the year is the busiest when it comes to residents making donations, many of whom do so by mail.

She says the non-profit has noticed a significant decrease in the number of cheques received so far this year. She says in the average holiday season, the YMCA will receive anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 in the mail via cheques.

“We need that funding to run the programs and services that we offer here at the YMCA,” says Yeomans. “Which could be anything from helping somebody with after-school or child-care cost, our home delivery program, our rainbow program, all those programs that are really crucial to supporting people in our community. It gives them that sense of belonging and helping them to ignite their potential.”

She is hopeful donors will continue to support the YMCA in other ways. She recommends residents visit their website or drop off a cheque at one of their locations in the city.

Yeomans is hopeful for a resolution to the work stoppage before it affects any programming.

“We do actually rely on Canada Post a lot throughout the year for mailing our thank you notes and connecting with our donors as well,” says Yeomans. “It is crucial to our non-profit.”

Seniors are among the ones feeling the impacts of the ongoing labour dispute the most.

For some seniors, adapting to the online world via technology has been difficult, meaning many still elect to use Canada Post to connect with family as well as to send and receive important documents.

Bill Vangorder, an education officer with the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), notes the inability to send Christmas cards during this time of year has seniors feeling lonely and isolated.

He appreciates organizations trying to make alternative methods for residents to get and receive documents online, but says around 30 per cent of seniors don’t have the technical skills to use other options.

“They still get their news from traditional media, TV, radio, newspapers, and they use the mail and they're the ones that are still using it, need it, depending on it,” Vangorder says. “Otherwise they're cut off from their world.”

Vangorder adds the strike has affected senior’s confidence, mental health, and ability to live comfortably day-to-day. He hopes for their sake a resolution to the work stoppage will happen soon.