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Some Canada Post workers went on strike in Montreal late Monday night and were still picketing early Tuesday, a few hours after the senators voted in favor of the Liberal government's back-to-work legislation.
Local members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) made the decision to strike alone. These are not orders from national union leaders, say the members.
This back to work legislation means that Canada Post workers will have to be back to work by noon. AND Tuesday.
Representatives of local unions said that members would return to work as planned rather than face heavy fines.
The government's decision ends nearly six weeks of rotating strikes – strikes that have intermittently slowed the postal service across the country.
The Tuesday morning strike in front of the Saint-Laurent borough's sorting center in Montreal is the second stoppage of work this month in the city.
Frustrated by a back-to-work law
Hakim Kaddouri, a Canada Post employee, was on the picket line early Tuesday. He told the CBC that back-to-work legislation was frustrating, as it was the second time since 2011 that the federal government ended Canada Post strikes in this manner.
"We have the right to go on strike," he said. "How can we deal with our employer if we have this special law twice?"
The union's only power is the ability to strike, he said, and the government is taking away that power.
Workers at the Canada Post sorting center in the borough of Saint-Laurent decided to go on strike after learning about the federal legislation on the return to work. (Lauren McCallum / CBC)
Annie Lesage, union representative, is waiting for CUPW to fight against this legislation.
"We will fight as long as we can," she said. "We did it in 2011. We won the battle against the back to work law, and if we have to go, we'll do it."
Fight for better working conditions
Along with its demand for improved workplace safety, CUPW wants better wages, job security, guaranteed schedules and equality.
"Our fight is not for the money," Lesage said. "People will go home, working the same way as in the last 10 years.We say that there are a lot of injuries.This is not work, it 's not the job. is the work that Canada Post imposes on its workers. "
Lise-Lyne Gélineau, President of the CUPW Montreal Chapter, said members were upset to have to return to work under the same unimproved conditions.
"Canada Post does not respect us any more than the Liberal government," she said.
She said she was waiting for union orders at the national level to find out what will happen next.
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