Canada Post's potential strike means a 'wait-and-see game' for anxious Island businesses
Some businesses very concerned; others switching shipping methods altogether
Prince Edward Island businesses are planning for another financial hit — and making moves to dodge it — in light of the possibility that Canada Post workers could walk off the job Friday.
Charlene Miller is the co-owner of Periwinkle Laine, a rug-hooking training and supply business in central P.E.I. Kits, wool fabric and patterns are some of their big sellers, and nearly 100 per cent of her business is online, so shipping is crucial.
Her business has a rug-hooking event coming up soon in Nova Scotia, and the success of that relies on a major order of product that's sitting in Montreal.
Miller is losing confidence by the day that the goods will make it to P.E.I. before any potential strike or walkout.
"We don't know if we're going to get that. And if we don't get that order, that's supplies we need to be able to go out and host our event. It puts our event at risk," Miller said.
"It's a wait-and-see game, and it's really unsettling."
2nd strike in 7 months
Canada Post has received a strike notice from the union representing some 55,000 postal workers, which could halt deliveries for millions of residents and businesses across the country.
If workers do strike, no new mail will be accepted and items already in the system will be held until the strike is over. That's clear because it's what happened in November, when Canadian Union of Postal Workers members walked off the job in the lead-up to the busy Christmas season.
Issues in dispute at that time still haven't been resolved.
For Miller and her co-owner Debbie Miller, cancelling the Nova Scotia event isn't in the cards, but the overall uncertainty around shipping to customers and receiving goods on time is disappointing.
"We've had our customers calling us and asking us to check out alternatives for them too. Maritime Bus, we call and price packages there," she said.
"Everything is so expensive these days. You want to give your customer the best you can, so we shop around for the best rates, and the best service."
'It's a little worrisome'
Exor Games in Charlottetown is also creating backup shipping plans for a major event, as a potential strike weighs on the minds of customers and staff.
The cards, collectibles and game shop organizes some of its biggest events around the major card game Magic: The Gathering. In a few weeks time, Magic is releasing a highly anticipated card set — a collaboration with the video game series Final Fantasy.
Exor's assistant store manager and online sales manager, Sebastian Bilodeau, says it's "probably the biggest" release they've ever done, so staff are coming up with different delivery plans to make sure a strike at Canada Post won't spoil the release.
"It's really big for the store, it's really big for the customer … so we've come up with some ideas, some preventive measures," he said. "We hope it doesn't affect us too much."
Some of those measures are switching their shipping of outgoing products to other providers, such as UPS. That way, people who order through Exor won't be kept waiting if there is a strike.
A big chunk of the store's sales are through its online store, which ships across Canada, and it has been relying on Canada Post to deliver those products to many of those customers.
"It's a little worrisome. We expected this back in December, whenever the first strike kind of ended," Bilodeau said.
"There's some uncertainty with how long it's going to be. Is it going to be a week? Is it going to be three weeks? And how long do we have to put these preventative measures in place?"
Vesey's switches shipping from Canada Post
John Barrett, the director of sales, marketing and development at Vesey's Seeds in York, P.E.I., says his business is one of Canada Post's largest customers in Atlantic Canada.
But with the possibility that workers will strike again just as it's sending out masses of spring-specific plant products, Barrett said Vesey's had to make a change.
"Unfortunately, over the last few weeks, we've had to make a shift and we've moved all the shipping of our products to a competing delivery company," he said.
"We just could not depend on having our parcels delivered, or being stuck in the system, if and when a strike took place. That was very unfortunate for us. We've always enjoyed our relationship with Canada Post, but we had no option."
That isn't the case for their bulb and seed catalogues, though. Barrett said those continue to be delivered through Canada Post.
They have to realize the financial damage and harm that they're doing— John Barrett, Vesey's Seeds
Barrett said he'll be lobbying the Island's four Liberal MPs to "make a noise" about the situation at Canada Post, and remind the government how confidence is being shaken around Canada Post.
"The problem is there's not a lot of public pressure right now because it's not Christmas," Barrett said. "But they have to realize the financial damage and harm that they're doing to companies across the country."
Social assistance not affected
Meanwhile, the province says there will be no delays to benefit payments for social assistance clients.
In the event that Canada Post is not delivering, clients can pick up cheques at social program offices or arrange for direct deposit.
In order to pick up a cheque, people need identification — as well as written authorization to pick up for someone else.
Anyone living in a remote area or who has a special need can get in touch with their regular contact with social assistance.
UPSE expresses solidarity
UPSE, the union for public sector employees on Prince Edward Island, has issued a statement around the potential strike.
Karen Jackson, president of UPSE, said the union "fully supports and is in solidarity with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers as it takes necessary action to pursue a fair and reasonable deal for its members.
"To recruit and retain competent public service workers to enhance services for Islanders and Canadians, unions at times need to utilize the tools necessary to obtain a fair and reasonable deal for their members and the public service."
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