Canada Post sealed

Canada Post employees just want to work, says the local Canadian Union of Postal Workers president.

But with a lockout by their employer, that’s not happening.

CUPW local 620 president Wendy Johnson said she heard just after midnight Tuesday that Canada Post had locked out its 48,000 employees, including 230 in Thunder Bay. Johnson said she’s disappointed. The mail has been piling up and routes aren’t being delivered.

"It’s not necessary. We want to work. The public wants their mail," Johnson said outside of Canada Post on Alloy Drive Wednesday. "We want to deliver what everybody is entitled to. Let’s just get back to business."

Interrupted by honks of support and loud cheers, Johnson said she hasn’t heard anything from the national union office but expects to get some information when CUPW president Denis Lemelin holds a media conference Wednesday afternoon.

In talks since October, Johnson said Canada Post has offered nothing to its employees but rollbacks. Although the company claims to be making concessions to the union, Johnson everything offered so far has already been negotiated over the past 45 years.

"Canada Post I think we’re trying to provoke a strike. We didn’t go out so they locked us out. I don’t know why. I have no idea. I don’t know what their thoughts are," Johnson said.

The company has blamed the union for the lockout, saying more than $100 million in revenue was lost Tuesday when rolling strikes hit Toronto and Montreal, where more than 60 per cent of the country’s mail is handled.

Johnson said it is irresponsible for the company to blame the union while Canada Post has had a campaign of misinformation about employees through the media.

"I know when I read the article it sounded like we all make 26 bucks (per hour) and we get seven weeks of holidays. Well I’ll sign up for that job too," said Johnson. "They’ve just not been honest with the facts."