(Contributed photo/ Bill Kilsby)

By Ian Gustafson

Day 19

Canada Post workers hold solidarity rally as strike continues

Dec 3, 2024 | 11:38 AM

Canada Post workers held a solidarity rally and march in Red Deer on Monday.

Approximately 100 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local 818 were at the event at 4 p.m. as the strike reached day 19.

As a group, they picketed in front of the north end location on 67A Street in their continued battle for what they describe as fair living wages, safe working environments, and retiring with dignity.

Local 818 President, Bill Kilsby, said it was an amazing scene.

“Everyone was loud and it was a really upbeat scene and it was all about solidarity,” he said.

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Among those in attendance were postal workers from Red Deer, Innisfail, Olds, and Rocky Mountain House. They also had members from other unions join.

“It was a good concentrated effort of people because when we’re picketing all day we’re sort of split up in numbers,” Kilsby added.

“Sometimes when you go by and see 10 people it always looks like a few people but when you gather them all together and have a rally like that it really boosts peoples spirits.”

(Contributed photo/ Bill Kilsby)

Canada Post said Monday it was waiting for the union to respond to a framework it presented over the weekend for reaching negotiated agreements.

The CUPW has said it’s reviewed the proposal. It said Canada Post has moved closer to the union’s position on some issues, but the framework “still remains far from something members could ratify.”

One of the sticking points has been a push to add weekend delivery, with the union and Canada Post disagreeing over how the rollout would work.

Kilsby said with talks coming to a halt the main message of the rally was to ask Canada Post to return to the bargaining table.

“A lot of times it seems like Canada Post is focusing on shaping public opinion by reaching out to the media but we want them to instead return to negotiate and work on a good collective agreement so postal workers can get back to doing what they love,” Kilsby said.

The union president said it seems like they’re close to returning to negotiations and he remains hopeful.

Kilsby added Local 818 workers are starting to feel the pressure of being without pay but have remained focused on their goal despite the frigid temperatures over the last few weeks.

“They were out there and were troopers. They dressed warm and we had so much public support of people dropping by and bringing coffee, hot chocolate, pizza and donuts,” he said.

“You can tell people are still committed but it’s day 19 now, we’re wanting to get back to work but we want to go back to a good collective agreement as well.”

–With Files from The Canadian Press