Lacombe Canada Post workers went to the picket lines today, joining the thousands across Canada who are a part of rotating strikes asking for job security, an end to forced overtime, better health and safety measures and service expansion and equality for rural and suburban mail carriers.
Kim Cartwright, RSMC in Lacombe, wants the community to know that Canada Post workers are not being treated equally.
“We want guaranteed paid hours for what we work and also we want to be paid for the extra jobs we do do like heavy volume at Christmas,” she said.
The 24-hour rotating strikes started on Oct. 21st and has spread across Canada. Mail has continued to be delivered, with some delay.
Cartwright said that Lacombe has shown plenty of support for their cause.
“We have had lots people bring coffee, donuts and pizza. We have had a lot of people waving at us. It has been very good so far,” she said.
Workers are given no notice when they will go on strike and Cartwright hopes this is resolved soon.
“We would like to be back to work and have this solved. It has been a long 10 months,” she said.
Twenty-one workers from Lacombe and many from the surrounding areas were showing solidarity. Cartwright hopes that Lacombe continues to support their efforts.
We have 21 here and today we have got a few from Red Deer, Bentley, Blackfalds and Alix.
“A lot of people think if you work for Canada Post, you make a lot of money and that this is just only about wages. That is not what the case is. It would be great if people didn’t have those ideas of us. We want it all to be equal,” she said
She added, “We appreciate everyone’s support. It has been great.”