Local business has ‘lost confidence’ in Canada Post amid rotating strikes, switching

Businesses in the Edmonton area are preparing for the Christmas rush as rotating strikes at Canada Post continue.

As the weeks-long Canada Post rotating strikes continue, one local business owner says he’s switched to a private company for smoother service.

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It’s all to prepare ahead of the holiday season.

“We pivoted pretty quickly the first time Canada Post went on strike and now with the rotating strikes, we’ve essentially just lost confidence in Canada Post,” said Bob Schilf, owner of Track ‘N Trail.

Schilff says the strike has hurt his business with customers telling him they’re not receiving their packages, which ultimately led him to switching couriers.

“Believe it or not but the rates are extremely competitive with Canada Post and so we have not had an issue for us with increased costs for shipping,” he said.

It’s been more than a month since Canada Post announced country wide job action, but rotating strikes haven’t started yet in the Edmonton area.

Paper Birch Books is another business experiencing some delayed packages and is using alternative services at times.

Co-owner Celine Chuang says customers have been understanding of the strike. The business says it supports Canada Post and is using it for most of its online orders.

“I think they have shared values with us and they have a lot of flexibility and willingness to step up for small businesses, even if it means waiting a little bit longer for things to arrive,” Chuang told CTV News Edmonton.

The local union says the strategy for the rotating strikes is focused on smaller areas where there is a concern those offices will be closed. Regardless, workers are hoping for a fair resolution.

“The people are looking for stability and they’re looking to see that we have a contract of a period of time to know that we’re going to be doing the work, and that’s all we really want to do is the work,” said James Ball, CUPW 730 president.

With files from The Canadian Press and CTV News Edmonton’s Gates Guarin