On our 15th episode, we chat about the recent strike/lockout at Canada Post. Shawn is a Letter Carrier, so this issue is immediate and personal. Leah and Shawn talk about the strike itself, as well as Shawn's own experience working for the post office. You will also learn a few surprises along the way.

More than 55,000 postal workers went on strike on Nov. 15. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers was seeking wage increases, better pensions and improved health benefits. The Union insists that wage increases must be kept in line with inflation, with cost-of-living adjustment payments rolled into the basic wage rate. Weekend delivery was one of the main sticking points during negotiations. Canada Post has pitched seven-day-a-week delivery as a way to boost revenue and "secure the future of the company" as it struggles to compete with other delivery companies.

The Crown corporation says it would staff weekend delivery shifts with a mix of new permanent part-time positions and some full-time, which would "create flexibility while not adding significant long-term fixed costs." But the union characterizes Canada Post's proposals as "attacks on full-time work," accusing the Crown corporation of wanting to increase the part-time mix to more than 50 per cent of the workforce. It says it is concerned some part-timers could be scheduled for as few as eight hours per week and wouldn’t be eligible for benefits until they reach 1,000 hours.

Essentially, the Union and the Corporation do not see eye to eye on a number of factors. The Canada Post strike has been hard on workers, customers and the economy. The goodish news is that we are back to work and the government has set a few things in motion to try to help. Only time will tell what that means for the workers.

This week's podcast promo: EnterpriseSplaining

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