Canada Post backlog
Posted Jul 6, 2011 03:14:19 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Canada Post is working through a back-log at their sorting facilities across the country after recent labour disruptions. The post office has almost caught up parcels and advertising mail and about 35% of the backlog letter mail has been processed so far.
John Caines, Spokesperson with Canada Post told 570 News that mail sorting workers will work overtime as required and carriers have an extra hour at the start of their day to sort their mail bags before they head out, “so they’re going out with full bags and when they’re done, they’re coming back. We went into a pretty difficult situation and had huge revenue losses due to that labour disruption so what we need to do now is everything we can to move the mail as quickly as possible but not take on any additional and potentially unnecessary costs”.
Meanwhile, John Wastell, President of Canadian Union of Postal Workers Kitchener Waterloo Local 560 told 570 News that he believes that not giving letter carriers overtime to deliver the mail is in violation of the back to work legislation, “neither side was supposed to impede the delivery of mail, and if you ask me, this is impeding the delivery of mail”.
Caines, “can’t say for sure” how long the backlog will take to work through, but speculates a week, maybe two. Citing a normal week this time of the year Canada Post would process and deliver 86 Million pieces, “last week with two less days, we delivered 125 Million” to paint the picture of just how hard staff is working through the backlog. That’s busier than the Christmas holiday rush.
Wastell said, “during the Christmas period they were forcing our letter carriers to work long, long hours” with carriers out until well past dark to meet their deliveries. Wastell wants Canada Post to let the carriers do their jobs.
