YORKTON – Members of Local 860 Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) braved the weather to man the picket line in Yorkton Nov. 18.
They stand with 55,000 postal workers nationwide, represented by CUPW, who initiated a strike on Nov. 15. The postal workers, including both Rural Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) and Urban Operations bargaining units, have taken to the picket lines after a year of bargaining with little progress.
“None of us want to be on strike,” said Curtis Kerluke, President of the Local 860, in an interview with Â鶹´«Ã½AV.ca, adding “it's something that we have to do.”
Kerluke emphasized that the strike is necessary to fight for fair wages, safe working conditions and the right to retire with dignity. Moreover, the workers are advocating for the expansion of services at the public post office, ensuring that smaller communities continue to have access to essential postal services.
Kerluke, who has been with Canada Post for 17 years, expressed concern about the recent changes in benefits and pensions.
“From our regional point of view — they’re trying to take benefits away from us,” said Kerluke.
“Personally benefits are important to me because I’m older and pension is very important to me and they’re trying to change our pension as well," added Kerluke.
Kerluke shared a personal story of falling ill with cancer and facing significant challenges in obtaining short-term disability after he said he "went septic" and had to be transferred by ambulance from Yorkton to Regina for medical treatment.
“I had to fight to be on short-term disability because they didn’t think it was serious enough,” said Kerluke.
The strike comes at a critical time just as the holiday season approaches.
“It’s our busy time,” said Kerluke.
Despite the strike, postal workers have committed to delivering government cheques, as according to Kerluke, “that’s important to us letter carriers.”
In a release from CUPW, the union criticized Canada Post for its refusal to negotiate real solutions.
“Canada Post had the opportunity to prevent this strike, but it has refused to negotiate real solutions to the issues postal workers face every day,” read the release dated Nov. 15.
“We care about our customers,” said Kerluke. “When you work for a company and you're proud of what you do… when you start chopping benefits—that's when it hurts. Especially as you get older.”
