postal workers strike -- crown corp. eh

SO... there's a postal strike on and the lack of recyclable junk-mail aka flyers has been nice, but realize this is costing millions in lost revenue and reputation. The courier services aren't complaining as business has been brisk for them. On the other-hand, the postal workers aren't allowed to say much either.


While 'negotiations' are going Deerfoot log-jam un-rush hour traffic slow for almost six months now without a contract agreement, postal workers are wondering what will happen next.


While the government hesitates to jump in and order them back to work even before they go on a full-out strike, I stand confused. A rotating strike is rather decent of workers on a national level to throw a wrench in usually well oiled machinery.


One could argue that they are doing it to avoid bad publicity and angry citizens who pay their salaries at the end of the day. Not understanding real deal-breaker/makers, better benefits and whether employees start at $19/hr or $23/hr. $23 is presently what workers make after a year in service. They probably are wondering if they'll get a raise too accounting for inflation.


Getting a package in the mail a few days ago, the postal worker apologizing for it being a bit late. Told him I totally support striking because someone has to put a foot down.


He shrugged and I understood he couldn't say much. Without naming or saying his opinion is that of everyone at Canada Post, he just wants them to agree on something so he can keep working. Strike pay isn't so great and letters aren't getting delivered so he was so back-logged that his truck was fully loaded.


Go figure when there's talk of strikes, clients losing business, and other dire things happening, there's always the little guy who just clocks in and serves his community. Cutting his pension, co-workers and buying more machinery to run him off his feet would make anyone disgruntled.


Crown Corporations, which have indirectly government funding, are become controversial every time there's a strike. Like a private company runs it any better? This reporter isn't a political 'scientist' or business expert, but if it ain't completely broke, find some ductape and patch it up.


Even though it's a full out strike now, workers are like the pony express, the mail must get through. They are still working three days a week and not affecting rural areas.


If they can deliver 45M letters per year to 14M addresses, about 355 letters to each house-hold. That and they are not running a deficit according to a company history and report a few years old, that's pretty darn decent for buying out Puralator and cutting management back 5 per cent.


The postal report is worth a read if interested in business. Quick facts that the company has been run better since it took a drastic change 30 years ago. There's some sticky monopoly on delivering letters and officially the postal service is overseen by the minister of transportation, but run by a board of directors.


When health-care debates rage about two-tier systems, having private/public competition on delivering stuff to door-steps has been good for the customer. Apples and oranges between health and mail, but sometimes both are in the balance, especially in northern communities.


Love letters, products from online -- which Canada Post has gotten into that business, very forward thinking -- and everything from medical supplies to confidential documents are all varying importance.


In act of good faith, postal workers realized that they also deliver elections documents and pamphlets, all kinds of official mail and pension cheques etc. So maybe the politicians should stop thinking about forcing them back to work and think about helping them out as postal workers help out other Canadians. They get rather well paid for it so maybe the unions should think about how they go about this as well. Glad it's not up this reporter to figure out.


So then... hope this works out quickly. There's still another mess with Air Canada strike but that's a whole other story of a public bail-out which is still limping, but that's for another day. Just make sure the little guy is looked after.


-- PLR --


p.s. cute photo graphic came from here