Twenty one local postal workers heading into week three on the picket line will soon be back to work, possibly by Friday if the back-to-work legislation is passed by then.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), which consists of 45,000 postal workers nation-wide, are on strike in an effort to receive wage increases, control the route measurement system and expand services. However, legislation is currently making its way through Parliament to get those workers back on the job. When passed, workers will resume their duties as usual.
"I think we'll be back to work by Friday unless things are held up in the House," said Walter Paxman, president of CUPW Local No. 853 in Weyburn.
The legislation also includes wage increases for Canada Post employees as well as a mediator for Canada Post. "The legislated wage increase is 26 cents less than what was already on the table, what Canada Post had already agreed to," Mr. Paxman added.
As of February 1998 a wage increase of 1.5 per cent will take effect, followed by another 1.75 per cent increase in February of 1999 and a 1.9 per cent increase in February of 2000. The mediator will ensure Canada Post is financially viable and making a profit at a commercial level.
The legislation will have postal workers back to work just in time to deal with the influx of Christmas mail. No provisions have been made at the Weyburn Post Office to deal with the possible mail rush.
"We're just going to adjust accordingly as we go along.
We want to wait and see how customers react to the strike, see
whether or not they're going to hit us with a lot of mail,"
said Abe Wolvers, superintendent of operations in Weyburn and
Estevan.
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