Canada Post Strike Continues in London and Around Tuesday – London

Canada Post's rotating strikes suspend the postal service in London and surrounding areas for a second day.

Karen Finlay-Russell, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local Union, told Global News Radio 980 CFPL that the "national decision" was made late Monday night.

"When I announced this announcement on the lines last night, around 9:30, people were extremely excited and excited that we were still out 24 hours later," she said. The strike was originally supposed to last only one day.

This action has an impact on the surrounding areas including Dorchester, St. Mary's, Aylmer and Lambeth. Finlay-Russell said they had to return to work Tuesday at 10 pm.

Dozens of people attended a rally at City Hall on Monday afternoon while a stoppage of work by local postal workers ended the London Post Office.

Finlay-Russell said protests such as Monday's billing at 300 Dufferin Avenue, which later moved to the Wellington Street Post Office, will help end the labor dispute.

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"I really think that if we put enough pressure, it will happen," Finlay-Russell said. "I think there are people in Ottawa with CPC who are pushing that a bit, so we just have to help get things done."

She said that they were fighting to improve working conditions, which have deteriorated in recent years.

"In fact, one factor called me and I cried when she spoke to me, frankly, because she said:" My children think I am a bad mother because I do not go home before going to bed and I left in the morning before they get up, "and that is the saddest story that I'm going to get up have never heard, and that's the reality of our letter carriers here in London, "said Finlay-Russell.

Pauline Peterson, a local postal worker, acknowledged that the work has been very stressful in recent years.

"Our itineraries are getting very long. They become overworked. Our parcel volumes have expired, and Canada Post certainly has a health and safety problem and we need them to fix it, "said Peterson.

London-Fanshawe NDP MP Irene Mathyssen attended the rally to show her support for the workers.

"We need the post office. It is a major Crown corporation. Not only do they deliver letters and parcels, but Canada Post could become the 21st century postal bank, "said Mathyssen.

Several other local politicians also attended the rally, including Ward 2 Elected Advisor Shawn Lewis, Ward 12 Elected Advisor Elizabeth Peloza and NDP MP for London North Center Terence Kernaghan.

READ MORE: Union official says Canadian postal strike could be long

The union, which represents 50,000 postal workers, calls for improvements in health and safety, gender equality and service expansion, including postal banking.

It is unclear when the strike will end, but the union says its members left just after midnight in London, the Greater Toronto Area and St. Catharines, as well as in six communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Labrador.

CUPW members have been on strike since October 22 to pressure Canada Post as both parties attempt to negotiate new collective agreements for unionized workers in urban and rural areas.

Canada Post said Sunday that the rotating strikes had impacted operations in more than 70 communities across the country, causing processing delays that could delay mail delivery to customers for several days.

The state-owned company said it had made "important offers" to the union, including "increased wages, improved job security and benefits", without asking for concessions.

– With records from the Canadian press