Inuit call on federal government to end to postal strike

Inuit governments and the national advocacy group for Inuit rights are calling for an end to the Canada Post strike. They say the stoppage of mail services is disproportionately impacting Inuit communities across the north.

Both Nunatsiavut Government in Labrador and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the national organization representing Inuit across Inuit Nunangat, say the strike is having far-reaching impacts on Inuit since Canada Post is the only mail carrier service in much of the north.

“Canada Post is a lifeline to each of the four regions of Inuit Nunangat,” ITK said in a Dec. 3 statement shared on social media. “No other carrier serves our communities, so Canada Post is the only provider of all mail and parcel delivery to tens of thousands of Inuit.”

ITK says the strike is impacting the “timely delivery of cheques, medical supplies, and other essential goods,” while negatively affecting Inuit craftspeople who rely on mail service to ship out their goods.

“Most of our communities have only one or two stores, so during the holiday season there are truly few alternatives for baby formula and diapers,” ITK said in its statement, adding it “encourages a quick resolution to this matter, to limit the disproportionate consequences Inuit are facing.”

The Nunatsiavut Government, which represents Labrador Inuit, went a step further. It’s calling on the federal government to intervene in the labour dispute, now in its fourth week.

Federal mediation in the strike was put on hold last week. On Friday, however, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers—which represents the 55,000 striking workers—said it received new documents from Canada Post in response to CUPW’s counter-proposal.

Postal workers are asking for better wages, safer working conditions, protection of their defined benefit pension plan, and an expansion of public postal services.

Impacts on Labrador coast

Nunatsiavut Government says the strike is having significant impacts in communities on the north coast of Labrador.

“This strike is causing hardships for our communities that rely on Canada Post for essential services that are critical to our day-to-day lives,” NG President Johannes Lampe said in Nunatsiavut’s Nov. 29 press release calling for federal intervention. “As we approach the holiday season, this postal strike is causing much difficulty, particularly for individuals who do not have access to online banking or other digital services. People are unable to receive cheques, government benefits, or other essential payments – leaving many without the financial support they rely on to cover basic needs, such as food and clothing and heat.”

Nunatsiavut also says the strike is preventing the delivery of essential packages, including “Christmas presents, baby formula, and other needed supplies, and putting more undue hardship on those who depend on this service.”

Lampe said there are only a few online shops that ship to northern Labrador communities using methods other than Canada Post. “Access to goods is already limited in our communities, so the absence of the postal services means that many will go without gifts during the holiday season – a painful reality for families already facing many challenges,” he said.

In Nunavut, the territorial government has sought alternative ways to deliver documents and goods. “To minimize the strike action’s impact on government programs and services, the [Government of Nunavut] has identified alternate means to transport and deliver materials between communities,” the government said in a Dec. 3 news release. “Government Liaison Offices in each community can assist in local distribution of government documents shipped to communities.”

CUPW National President Jan Simpson has said postal workers will deliver provincial and federal government cheques in December. “We do not want pensioners and people who rely on government assistance to suffer during the current work disruption,” she said in a statement Thursday, adding “the most vulnerable members of our society should not be caught in the crosshairs of our contract dispute with Canada Post.

“CUPW members are doing this important work because it’s the right thing to do to help the most vulnerable in our community. Our fight is with Canada Post and not these members of society. They are relying on us now more than ever.”

On Nov. 27, provincial NDP leader Jim Dinn said in a news release that CUPW had informed him Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey declined the union’s offer to continue delivery of government support cheques during the strike.

The Independent reached out to CUPW and Nunatisavut Government for interviews about the issue but was not able to schedule any before deadline.