AMC urges speedy resolution for postal strike
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/12/2024 (279 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is calling for a speedy resolution to the prolonged Canada Post strike, saying remote communities are especially bearing the brunt of service disruptions resulting from the nearly month-long strike.
Medications and vital correspondence are among the essential deliveries that have been acutely impacted, AMC said.
In an interview with the Sun, Canupawakpa Dakota Nation Chief Raymond Brown said the strike is creating some issues at home.
Letter carrier Chad Azure and rural and suburban mail carrier Milt Kwiatkowski with Canada Post picket in the freezing cold outside Canada Post’s Brandon mail processing plant on Douglas Street, along with other striking Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) members. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
“It is affecting my community,” said Brown, who told the Sun he was in Winnipeg trying to locate messages that would typically be delivered by mail to Canupawapka. “These are the things that we’re supposed to be getting, and it comes through Canada Post. It doesn’t work, and that means the chief has to come to Winnipeg and run around and try to locate the cheques.”
Brown explained that mail stoppage has stalled funding for housing, schooling and for Jordan’s Principle, which provides an array of supports and services.
When reached by phone on Wednesday, Waywayseecappo First Nation Chief Murray Clearsky said the impacts (of the strike) are noticeable, but not a major problem in his community. The issues he has noticed stem primarily from delayed delivery of parcels rather than pertinent mail.
Clearsky added the strike has affected First Nations communities “a little more” than urban centres because of their remote location and reliance on (Canada Post) delivery services, agreeing with the AMC’s assertion about the impacts being felt more in these communities.
The AMC had also issued a press release earlier this week, stating that “the disruption is causing significant hardships” for First Nations that rely on Canada Post for essential services.
“Canada Post plays a critical role in connecting First Nations to the resources they need. The ongoing strike has disproportionately affected our nations, where access to services is already limited,” said Acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy. “We urge Canada Post, CUPW, and the federal government to work swiftly toward a resolution that prioritizes the needs of First Nations and rural communities.”
The ongoing strike, which began on Nov. 15, involves more than 55,000 workers. It centres around pay-increase requests, as well as a debate about how to staff weekends. Also up for negotiation are cost-of-living allowances and job security.
» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press