The Town of Carstairs has warned residents that mail service may be disrupted due to an ongoing labour dispute between Canada Post and its workers. Regular mail deliveries could be interrupted as early as Sunday.
Officials emphasize that residents are responsible for paying bills by the due date to avoid penalties.
To ensure timely receipt of their bills, Carstairs officials advise residents that there are several alternatives to traditional mail service. One option is eBilling, where residents can sign up to receive bills electronically.
Residents can also use the MyOnlineCarstairs portal to view their online account information and bills. For inquiries regarding their current balance and due dates, residents can call the Town Administration office at 403.337.3341.
Given the potential for postal disruptions, residents are advised against mailing payments. Instead, alternative payment methods include:
- Pre-authorized payments: Residents can set up automatic withdrawals from their bank accounts on the 15th of each month.
- Bank payments: They can pay through their bank by adding the Town of Carstairs as a payee.
- Credit card payments: Payments can be made via the MyOnlineCarstairs account.
- In-person payments: You can make payments at the Town Administration office using cash, cheque, or Interac. A night deposit box is also available for convenience.
The Town Administration office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but it is closed on Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on statutory holidays.
Update on Canada Post negotiations
In a recent news release, Canada Post stated that it is actively pursuing negotiated agreements with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), which has announced it received a strike mandate from its members. Both parties are urged to approach negotiations aggressively to prevent a potential labour disruption.
Negotiations officially commenced on November 15, 2023, and both sides have consistently met since then. Canada Post noted that these discussions are critical for Canada Post, which faces significant financial and operational challenges in the competitive parcel delivery market.
The company recorded an operational loss of $490 million in the first half of 2024 and has incurred losses totalling $3 billion from 2018 to 2023. The release added that Canada Post and CUPW need to concentrate on resolving outstanding issues to reach an agreement and that a labour disruption would severely impact the millions of Canadians relying on Canada Post, particularly during the busy holiday shipping season.
On September 25, Canada Post presented global offers to CUPW for both bargaining units, aiming to enhance or protect key aspects for employees. These proposals include annual wage increases of 10 per cent over four years, which equates to a 10.4 per cent compounded increase.
Canada Post also aims to protect the defined pension benefits for current employees, ensuring their job security and health benefits. Additional proposals include continued wage protection against unforeseen inflation, transitioning to an hourly pay rate for Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC), and improved leave entitlements for current employees.
To adapt to the growing demands of the parcel delivery market, Canada Post has proposed changes to create a more flexible and affordable delivery model, enabling parcel delivery seven days a week. Furthermore, the corporation has agreed to support CUPW’s proposal for a future merger of the RSMC and Urban bargaining units, working towards establishing one bargaining unit and one collective agreement.
CUPW presented counter-offers to Canada Post on October 7, and negotiations are ongoing. Canada Post aims to reach agreements without any labour disruption and is committed to urgently finding common ground.
On August 13, the parties entered a 60-day conciliation period with the assistance of neutral conciliators. This conciliation period expired on October 12 without extension, transitioning into a 21-day cooling-off period, during which negotiations continued.
The federal government appointed mediators to assist in the negotiations on October 15. The cooling-off period will conclude on November 2. After this date, either party could initiate a labour disruption, following a minimum notice of 72 hours. Therefore, no labour disruption can occur before November 3.
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