Brandon postal workers picket Purolator

Brandon postal workers took their picket line to Purolator on Monday morning, as the strike by members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers entered another week.

The union, which represents 55,000 postal service workers across the country, launched the strike last Thursday after Ottawa announced it would allow the Crown corporation to take major steps to shore up its struggling finances, including terminating daily door-to-door delivery.

About 30 members of CUPW Brandon Local 708 gathered outside the Canada Post depot, while a smaller group went to the Purolator site at 939 Douglas St. to show concerns about parcel deliveries, local president Tyler Stephens told the Sun on Monday afternoon.

“We were legally only allowed to hold them up for five minutes per truck, so we didn’t deny them leaving,” he said. “We still let them do their jobs, and they were all very respectful of us. They understood our stance.”

Stephens said postal workers believe Canada Post has been shifting parcel volumes to Purolator to weaken the union’s bargaining power. He noted Canada Post owns a 91 per cent stake in Purolator and said the courier’s growing role is undermining postal workers.

“In 2024, Purolator delivered 45 million more parcels than it did the year before,” Stephens said.

“Canada Post sales reps can easily tell big customers to turn to Purolator. If Canada Post can use Purolator to attack postal workers, Purolator can use Canada Post to attack you. As delivery drivers, we need to stick together.”

The local president pointed to social media activity by Canada Post executives as further evidence of co-ordination between the two companies during last year’s strike.

“At least one executive at Canada Post has liked a social media post boasting that Purolator was ready to deliver during our strike last year,” he said.

Postal workers have been without a contract for nearly two years. Stephens said members would rather be on the job, but they remain united in their fight for fair bargaining.

“Everyone’s different. Nobody wants to be on strike, but we all understand why we are on strike,” he said.

“We all would like to be back at work, but we understand why we need to be on the line.”

The Crown corporation pointed to more than $5 billion in operating losses since 2018 and argued CUPW’s latest proposals would add $2.8 billion in costs.

The government says it accepts the recommendations made by an industrial inquiry commission set up earlier this year. The commission called for an expansion of community mailboxes and said Canada Post should be allowed to close some rural post offices.

CUPW said it was caught off guard by Ottawa’s changes. It argued that Canada Post and the government are creating the conditions that drive down demand for its services.

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

» X: @AbiolaOdutola