Locked-out Canada Post employees picket in Belleville

BELLEVILLE ONT (15/06/2011) Locked out Canada Post employees join a demonstration picket in Belleville. Canada Post decided to lock out its employees due to the cost, and safety concerns of the rotating strikes. Photo by Linda Horn

By Linda Horn

Local locked out Canada Post employees have set up demonstration pickets around the city hoping to get the public’s attention.

“We all want to get back to work and we want the public to understand we want to work. We got locked out,” said Marilyn Black a letter carrier who has been with Canada Post for 23 years.

Canada Post made the decision to lock out its employees and shut down operations June 14.

According to Canada Post’s website, the decision was made due to “significant impact on the short-term revenue of the business.”

Other reasons outlined on the website for the lockout include, employee and customer safety, and that bargaining between Canada Post and CUPW remain far apart.

Eugene Knapik, spokesperson for Canada Post, said in a telephone interview “negotiations are ongoing today and we working hard to achieve an agreement.”

Barrie Phillips a carrier with Canada Post for 33 years, carried a sign on Bell Boulevard in Belleville that read “honk if you want your mail.”

“This is the first time I have been locked out in my career,” said Phillips.

“It is very difficult to operate with rotating strikes. It is a difficult time for the company,” said Knapik.

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