**Postal Workers Strike Shuts Down Owen Sound Post Office Amid National Labour Dispute**

*Owen Sound, ON* — On Friday morning, customers arriving at the downtown Owen Sound post office were met with locked glass doors and an unusual silence. Postal workers had commenced a strike, leaving only those with post office boxes and keys able to enter the vestibule to retrieve their mail. Many who were unaware of the strike waited outside, hoping someone with a key would let them in.

Canada Post has announced that during the strike, no mail or parcels will be processed or delivered, and some post office locations will be closed. Additionally, no new mail will be accepted.

About 220 letter carriers and postal clerks from Grey-Bruce’s Local 582 are among the 55,000 postal workers nationwide who joined the strike. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) called the strike Thursday, responding to the federal government’s plan to end door-to-door delivery and implement other significant changes.

**Labour Strife and Falling Mail Volumes**

This strike follows 20 months of labour tensions, fueled by sharply declining mail volumes and revenues. Some striking workers carried signs reading “Fighting for your public service” and “CUPW on strike,” emphasizing their commitment to protecting public postal services.

Heather Gibson, a striking postal clerk from Owen Sound, spoke about the critical importance of door-to-door mail delivery, especially for seniors and during harsh winter months. “It’s their safety,” she emphasized.

Currently, only about a quarter of Canadians receive door-to-door service; the rest rely on community mailboxes or rural mailboxes. Owen Sound maintains door-to-door delivery except in newer subdivisions, which utilize central mailboxes. In smaller communities like Shallow Lake, where Gibson lives, residents pick up their mail at the post office.

**Concerns Over Executive Pay and Cost of Living**

Gibson expressed frustration over reported bonuses and high salaries paid to Canada Post executives despite the corporation’s financial struggles, while her income has not kept pace with inflation.

“It’s not that we’re being greedy. But the cost of living keeps going up. It’s not cheap,” she said.

As part of the strike, union members are currently receiving $60 per day in strike pay.

The union has proposed measures to enhance Canada Post’s financial stability, including introducing postal banking, offering wellness checks for seniors, and expanding post office services to make them more viable. However, Gibson feels the government’s actions aim to diminish public postal services rather than strengthen them.

While picketers have received some honks of support from passing motorists, they have also encountered expressions of frustration.

**Government’s Position and Financial Realities**

The union has condemned the federal government’s decisions to end door-to-door delivery, lift restrictions on post office closures, reduce mail delivery frequency requirements from six to five days a week, and allow more frequent postage price increases.

Public Works Minister Joel Lightbound, who spearheaded the changes, described Canada Post’s financial situation as effectively insolvent. According to the federal government, converting four million addresses to community mailboxes could save Canada Post nearly $400 million annually.

Canada Post has reported losses of at least $3 billion since 2018 amid a significant decline in mail volume—from 5.5 billion pieces of mail 20 years ago to under two billion today.

CUPW opposes these changes, warning that they will undermine the quality and accessibility of public postal services.

**Community Reactions in Owen Sound**

Outside the post office on 3rd Avenue East, Deb Pyke, who runs Fantasyland downtown, and Tim Muzzell waited for someone with a key to access their mailboxes.

Pyke needed to collect business bills and recalled the previous strike late last year when she showed support by bringing pizza and chocolates to striking workers. She was puzzled why workers wouldn’t allow her inside this time. Gibson explained that postal workers risk punishment if they let non-workers in, though a supervisor might have been able to assist if present.

As they waited, Pyke and Muzzell engaged in a friendly debate about the future of Canada Post.

Muzzell said, “Yes, we need to phase out door-to-door delivery. It’s going to happen. It’s just the way it goes,” though he advocated for a gradual transition over about ten years to ease the impact.

He acknowledged financial realities: “It has to be done. We can’t afford billions of dollars.”

Pyke raised concerns about seniors like those in Kemble who must access community mailboxes amidst heavy snow. Muzzell agreed, noting the importance of mailboxes in rural areas but lamented the lack of access given no one seemed to have the key.

Reflecting on Canada Post’s long history, Muzzell said, “We just should appreciate the fact that we have had Canada Post as it has been for the last hundred years.”

Eventually, both Pyke and Muzzell were able to retrieve their mail from inside the vestibule, though the post office doors remained locked throughout Friday morning.

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*Stay tuned for further updates on the postal strike and its impact on Owens Sound and surrounding communities.*
https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/owen-sound-postal-workers-join-national-strike-friday