More than 55,000 postal workers across Canada may return to the picket lines starting at midnight on Friday, May 23, according to a recent strike notice. If it proceeds, this will mark the second Canada Post strike in six months. The previous 32-day strike, which occurred in November and December, ended after federal intervention, but not before delaying millions of letters and parcels during the busy holiday season.
The current dispute centers on several key issues, including Canada Post’s proposal to hire part-time workers for weekend deliveries, a move the union opposes, as full-time employees currently receive overtime for weekend work.
Other concerns include wages, benefits, and pensions. While a last-minute agreement between the union and the Crown corporation could still prevent a strike, such a resolution appears unlikely.
Delivery of mail and parcels will depend on the nature of the strike. If a full national strike occurs, all mail and parcel delivery across Canada will stop starting Friday. If rotating strikes take place, service interruptions will be localized to affected areas, although nationwide delays may still occur. Exceptions for mail services that will continue during the strike include social assistance cheques and live animals (though no new shipments of live animals will be accepted until the strike concludes).
During the disruption, residents and businesses may consider using alternative courier services. Options include FedEx, Purolator, UPS, DHL, Canpar, Uber and Lyft (which offer parcel delivery in select areas). Please note that these services may be more expensive than Canada Post.
On a local level, in order to avoid delays and ensure your utility bills, property taxes, and other service accounts remain in good standing, the City of Martensville offers several secure payment methods, which include:
• In-person at City Hall during business hours (cash, debit, or cheque)
• Drop-box for cheques—available outside City Hall during evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Online and Telepay – Contact your bank to set up online or phone payments
• Interac e-Transfer® – Send same-day payments to: payments@martensville.ca
• TIPPS – The Tax Installment Payment Plan allows for equalized monthly tax payments (participants are exempt from late penalties)
• Pre-authorized payment plans for utility bills
• Credit card payments via the OptionPay System
For more details on these payment options and instructions for how to use them, visit: https://www.martensville.ca/pages/pay_my_bills2.html. To sign up for E-billing visit: https://mymartensvilleaccount.ca/LinkRegister.aspx
