Canada Post locks out urban workers

Mail sorting and most delivery has stopped across the country as Canada Post has locked out all of its unionized urban workers after 12 days of rotating strikes.

The crown corporation blames its decision on declines in mail volumes and revenue due to the work stoppages. In a statement released late Tuesday night, the corporation estimates it has lost $100 million after the latest rotating strikes in Montreal and Toronto. It also says the post office and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers remain “far apart” on several key issues, with no progress made at the negotiating table for weeks.

Canada Post says it believes a lockout is the best way to bring a “timely resolution” to the impasse in talks. The corporation says it hopes to meet with the union tomorrow to continue negotiations. The lockout does not affect rural and suburban mail carriers, but with no mail being sorted at central facilities, there will be little local mail to deliver.

Cristina Tenaglia has more from the picket line outside the Stoney Creek sorting facility: