Business community pressuring feds to intervene on Canada Post strike

The business community is ramping up pressure on the federal government to intervene in the ongoing Canada Post strike.

The walkout is now on day 20, with mediated negotiations still suspended.

The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) says the strike by 55,000 postal workers country-wide is putting thousands of businesses and their employees in jeopardy.

RCC President and CEO Diane J. Brisebois said in a statement that the strike is hurting the retail sector’s investments in online shopping convenience.

“Because of the length of this strike, alternative delivery is either unavailable or too expensive – which means shipments are not making it to businesses, stores or customers in time for the holidays,” said the CEO.

Brisebois’s statement also reads that the estimated losses in the sector due to the strike are surpassing the billion dollar mark and climbing.

The workers union and the Canada Post make efforts to negotiate

The government has resisted intervention, despite stepping in during other labour disputes earlier this year.

Mediation was paused last week due to significant gaps between both sides.

Canada Post presented a new framework for a deal earlier this week, but the union says issues like wages and safety must be addressed before they can reach a deal.

Another sticking point has been Canada Post’s push to expand delivery services to weekends, and how best to make it happen.

The union has said in recent statements it is ready to return to the negotiating table, “and get back to the work of negotiating good collective agreements.”

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With files from The Canadian Press.