55,000 Canadian postal service workers go on strike

Workers at Canada's national postal service, Canada Post, have gone on strike after failing to reach a negotiated agreement with the company. Approximately 55,000 workers are participating in the strike, which was called by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. The union claims that little progress has been made in the bargaining process, which has been ongoing for nearly a year. The union is seeking fair wages, safer working conditions, and other improvements. A 72-hour strike notice was issued earlier in the week, and Canada Post responded with a lockout notice, although it stated that it did not intend to lock out workers. The strike will disrupt mail service ahead of the busy holiday season, with customers experiencing delays and some post offices being closed. Mail and parcels will not be delivered during the strike, and processing and delivery may take time to return to normal once the strike is over. Federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon has appointed a special mediator to help in the talks. The government is providing support to help the two groups reach a deal. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers remains hopeful that a negotiated collective agreement can be achieved if Canada Post is willing to resolve outstanding issues.