Mixed emotions.
Those are the words that Teri Nobiss used to describe coming back to work after the federal government put a pause on the Canadian Union of Postal Workers' (CUPW) strike action.
"We're very happy to be back for our customers. But, we're also a little bit upset because we weren't able to get a negotiated contract. So that is a little bit of a problem going forward. The CIRB has ordered us back and we'll have to wait to see what they find. They're actually going to be doing a lot of investigating into everything that's happened. We'll have to wait until May to find out actually what is going to come of all of this," Nobiss shared.
The 30-year letter carrier in Estevan is also the shop steward for the local chapter of their union. CUPW is reported fighting back on the Canada Industrial Relations Board's decision to end the strike action a couple of weeks ago. As a union worker, Nobiss appreciates the continued fight.
"That's why we have a union is so that we can get a negotiated, fair contract. When the government or the CIRB gets involved in it, then that causes it to be not necessarily a fair decision. Usually, in other times that we've gone on strike, it hasn't always maybe gone our way or hasn't always gone the post office way. But at least if the two sides are negotiating, at least then you get a fair contract. But when they know the government is going to be stepping in, it's not always fair."
The postal stoppage that lasted a month saw millions of packages and mail stuck in limbo at many distribution centres and post offices across the country. Postal workers everywhere walked off the job after being locked out by Canada Post when the notice of strike action was laid out. For four weeks, more than 55,000 employees went on strike in front of their shuttered locations, demanding a new collective bargaining agreement from the Crown corporation.
"Honestly, we haven't kept up with inflation for a long time. We've given up a lot of things to keep the mail moving. During COVID, we were the heroes and we never took any increases in our wages. We didn't get anything sorted out at that time. Two years ago, we said, 'no, let's just wait. We'll come back in two years and hopefully get a negotiated settlement.' Well, here we are. It didn't happen."
"You know, it's a little disheartening, actually. After working here for 30 years, I'm having a really hard time with it all. I love my customers. I love that we're back to work. But the other stuff is not so easy to take." -Teri Nobiss, a 30-year letter carrier in Estevan and a shop steward for CUPW, on the pause of strike action.
Support of the movement was mixed as it unfolded. Many community members critiqued the timing of the strike action since they were on strike just before Black Friday. Many also supported the strike action, with some even dropping off coffee and donuts to the striking employees while they were out in the cold. "Even the little honks that we got or the little waves, you know, it makes you feel so like you're doing something that matters because being on strike is not fun. You don't really get anything for pay. It's more the principle of the thing that you're out there for. When we [got] those little bit of waves and all the support that we got, because we really did get a lot, we're just really thankful."
"It kind of makes your heart feel better, actually, because it's hard being on strike. I understand that some people have never been on strike, but it is not fun to be on strike. Nobody wants to be on strike," she added.
Nobiss expressed that it's good to see mail moving. She recalled seeing many patrons trying to get their mail from lockers inside the post office with no mail delivered. "It's hard when that's your job and that's what you're trained to do. It's hard to see that nothing's happening."
Employees are now back to work sorting and delivering mail to Canadians, while the fight for a new collective bargaining agreement continues behind the scenes. For now, the current contract between Canada Post and CUPW has been extended until May 2025.