Canada Post workers picket outside a sorting plant in Montreal on Friday, Nov.15, 2024. Canadian Union of Postal Workers says approximately 55,000 workers are striking, claiming little progress has been made in the bargaining process. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

OTTAWA - Canada Post workers hit the picket lines Friday after contract negotiations with their employer failed to conclude by the strike deadline — and Ottawa is signalling it's not ready to intervene.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said approximately 55,000 workers are striking, claiming little progress has been made in the bargaining process.

"The negotiations are very, very difficult," Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon told reporters in Montreal on Friday morning, adding that little progress has been made.

MacKinnon said he is working to facilitate the conclusion of a collective agreement, but each day brings "a new series of issues" that complicate efforts toward finding a resolution.

The strike comes just ahead of the busy holiday season and on the heels of labour disputes at Canada's ports.

Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said this is "really bad timing" and a terrible blow to small businesses — the bulk of which still rely on the traditional mail service.

"We're just getting the ports back in operation and now retailers may start to receive goods again that were frozen in the ports for a while, but now they're going to struggle to get them out to their end consumer because of the postal strike," he said.

Kelly said this will also immediately freeze up business invoices already travelling through the mail system, sending people "scrambling to try to get money."

He said Ottawa should step in soon to intervene with back-to-work legislation or send the matter to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

That's easier said than done, with a federal election expected to happen by next fall and all the political parties courting organized labour. Plus, Parliament is currently locked in the grips of a privilege debate about the release of government documents, which is blocking legislation from passing.

The minister said the government is not looking at forcing workers back on the job.

When asked if the strike could continue into the holiday season without finding a settlement, MacKinnon said he doesn't "foresee anything other than today, trying to facilitate negotiations."

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier in the week, saying it's been asking for fair wages, safer working conditions and other improvements over nearly a year of bargaining.

Godwin Smith, a longtime ranking member of the Ottawa local union out on the picket lines Friday, said postal workers are ready to stay out as long as it takes to get a "fair settlement."

“We're just on strike for a fair wage, better working conditions and we're tired of Canada Post coming to the bargaining table and just all the time asking for rollbacks,” he said, describing a frustrating past year of negotiations. “One day they're saying yes, the next day they're saying no. So, we're just taking two steps forward, one step backward for a year now, and we're not getting anywhere.”

Canada Post served the union with a lockout notice this week, but had said it didn't intend to lock workers out.

The Crown corporation released a statement early Friday morning confirming that customers will experience delays as a result of the strike.

The statement said mail and parcels will not be delivered for the duration of the strike, and some post offices will be closed.

Canada Post said shutting down facilities will affect its national network, with processing and delivery of mail possibly needing time to return to normal once the strike is over.

Ahead of the strike deadline, MacKinnon said he formally appointed the director general of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services as a special mediator to help in the talks.

"Our top federal mediators have been working with the parties tirelessly, and we are now sending additional resources to the bargaining table," MacKinnon said in a post on X.

"We are making sure that these two groups have everything they need to reach a deal."

Elections Nova Scotia will not send voter information cards in the mail due to the strike, according to a spokesperson who pointed out there are other ways voters can find out where to cast their ballots, such as by calling the agency or viewing its website. Voters in Nova Scotia go to the polls Nov. 26.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.

— With files from Pierre Saint-Arnaud in Montreal.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2024