Northeastern Ontario businesses adapt as strike begins by postal workers

As thousands of Canada Post workers walk the picket line on strike, many businesses in northeastern Ontario are adjusting.

On Friday, about 55-thousand members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers went on strike after failing to reach an agreement with their employer.

In Sudbury, some business owners had already started to come up with different plans before the strike started.

Jenny Fortier is the owner of Northern Wildflowers in Lively. She said about 95 per cent of her orders to customers are normally shipped through Canada Post.

Before the strike happened, Fortier said she tried to reduce the impact on her customers by removing the option for Canada Post to ship. She wanted to avoid having many orders stuck in transit.

"So it has really, unfortunately, decimated our online sales right now," she said.

Fortier said her sales are down about 95 per cent as a result.

Trevor Vienneau and his wife co-own Old Soul Soap Company in Hanmer. He said this time of year is normally his busiest time. Ahead of the strike, he started using courier services instead of Canada Post to avoid orders getting stuck in the system.

"It's a huge impact. It's huge," he said. 

"That means, you know, people aren't getting Christmas gifts. That means businesses aren't able to get product from our shop to their shelves so that they can sell it in time for Christmas. It's a disaster."

'Sorry that it's gotten to this'

Canada Post's latest contract offer included annual wage increases that amounted to 11.5 per cent over four years. It also offered protection of the defined benefit pension for current employees, as well as job security and health benefits.

The union said that wasn't enough and that the two parties remain far apart on several issues.

In Sudbury, workers are on the picket line on Lasalle Boulevard, outside the Canada Post facility.

Charlene Bradley is the president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 612.

"I'm sorry that it's gotten to this," she said.

"We were really hoping that Canada Post would do what they said, that they would come to the table and negotiate a fair contract. But they're not matching their words at this point in time."

She said there are several outstanding issues that need to be addressed, including wages.

"The cost of living is so high and the raise the we've been offered does not match the cost of living increase," she said.

"Also, we have rural and suburban mail carriers that are still not paid for all hours of work."

On its website, Canada Post said the strike will result in operations being shut down.

"Customers will experience delays due to the strike activity," the company stated.

"Mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered for the duration of the national strike, and some post offices will be closed. Service guarantees will be impacted for items already in the postal network. No new items will be accepted until the national disruption if over."