Several postal workers are rallying outside of the Canada Post office at Strathmore Centre.
The rally began on Friday as the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced that they would be going on strike as negotiations between the union and Canada Post have yielded no results.
"After a year of bargaining with little progress, postal workers made the difficult decision to strike," said Wycliffe Oduor, president of the Calgary CUPW branch that represents Strathmore workers. "Canada Post had the opportunity to prevent this strike, but it has refused to negotiate real solutions to the issues postal workers face every day."
According to those on strike, they're fighting for fair wages, safe working conditions, the right to retire with dignity, and an expansion of services at the public post office.
One of the workers rallying outside of Strathmore Centre said they didn't want to go on strike and disrupt mail services, but that they needed to take a stand.
"Canada Post is pushing for us to agree to weaker pensions not only for current members but for future generations as well," added Oduor. "They also want to make it more difficult for postal workers, who put their health and bodies on the line daily in challenging working conditions, to access essential benefits."
Oduor also claims that Canada Post is trying to reduce full-time jobs, which will compromise the quality of services provided to the public.
"Canada Post wants to gigify the workplace with part-time, lower-wage work."
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CUPW employs 55,000 postal workers across Canada, all of whom are now on strike.
As the strike is ongoing, Canada Post is no longer able to accept any letters or parcels. However, money orders, gift cards, and stamp purchases are still available to residents.
The last time CUPW went on strike was in 2018, which ended after the Supreme Court of Canada ordered that postal workers return to work.