Volunteer Canada Post worker Sadie Pope is seen picking up a bundle of benefit cheques that she delivered to local residents Wednesday amidst a national postal strike of 55,000 workers.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Dozens of local volunteer Canada Post workers suited up in uniform Wednesday during a national strike to deliver the next round of government benefit cheques to residents in Medicine Hat and surrounding communities.
Local members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers began delivering cheques including Canada Child Benefit, Pension Plan and old-age security, at noon Wednesday to ensure residents without direct deposit aren’t left without assistance as the union continues its negotiations with the Crown corporation.
“It’s nice to be able to help the people that still need help, not everybody has their stuff online, so it feels good to be able to stand on the picket line and still be able to help those who need it,” said Sadie Pope before leaving for a delivery.
Local union 776 president Ross Naroznick says the purpose of the initiative is to protect the most vulnerable individuals in the community who rely on monthly assistance from the government.
“People who are getting older, people with disabilities. The people who are getting these assisted cheques from the government because they’re not able to work, these are the people we’re doing our best to protect,” said Naroznick.
More than 100 local union workers from Medicine Hat, Brooks, Redcliff and surrounding communities have joined more than 55,000 postal workers for a national strike, called by the union last Friday morning, which has halted mail and parcel delivery service across the county.
On Monday the Ministry of Labour appointed a special mediator to work toward a resolution, and Naroznick says so far through discussion with both the union and Canada Post, the special mediator has been able to find some common ground.
“It’s a good showing that progress is being made and it gives up hope that a contract could be coming soon,” said Naroznick. “I know there’s going to be a lot of issues that are going to be a lot more difficult to find some sort of meeting point on, because a lot of them are just so substantial.”
The union says its workers are fighting for fair wages and better working conditions, but also for an expansion of current services offered by Canada Post.
“We are trying to get back to being able to keep up with the cost of living,” explains Naroznick. “Sure just because we work at Canada Post doesn’t mean that things are cheaper for us, right? It’s $4.50 for an onion for you, it’s $4.50 for an onion for me.”
Naroznick says local union workers have been struggling with the rising cost of living when the union agreed to an unfavourable two-year contract extension during the pandemic in September 2021.
“We didn’t want to put everybody through not having their mail, not having their parcels, when that’s when they were relying on us the most. So we took that contract extension, and as a result we fell way behind with the cost of living, because everything skyrocketed.”
Among expanded Canada Post services the union is seeking are broader internet service for small towns, postal banking and check-ins for seniors.
“People who have an accommodation where they require mail to be delivered to their house, we still get to see them every week. So to be able to expand on that customer service is something that we want because it’s just better for the communities, it’s better for employees and it’s better for the people using our services.
Local postal workers tell the News they plan to continue pushing for a deal and will continue to picket through cold weather if needed.
“We’ve got an awesome community, a lot of people coming down bringing us coffee and doughnuts and all sorts of stuff like hand warmers,” said Naroznick. “We are not going to be leaving the line, we’re going to be staying here no matter how cold it gets.”
The ministry told reporters Monday they are seeking a resolution at the bargaining table, but at this time it’s unclear if any agreements will be made or if the government will impose a back-to-work order as the Holiday Season approaches.
