Canada Post employees across the country, including those here in Estevan, are playing the waiting game with the federal government's back to work legislation expected to take effect by Thursday or Friday at the latest.
The roughly 20 Canadian Union of Postal Workers members have been off work since last Wednesday as part of the nationwide shutdown of Canada Post services by management.
According to national reports, the lockout was in response to a series of rotating strikes by the CUPW in larger centres. There have been estimates the strikes had cost Canada Post as much as $100 million.
So instead of delivering the mail, Canada Post's 50,000 employees have been on the picket line and spreading word about their contract dispute with the Crown corporation.
Teri Nobiss, the secretary-treasurer for the local CUPW chapter, said they were sad and disappointed with Canada Post's decision to lock employees out.
"I didn't really think it would happen this fast," she said. "I knew it might happen sooner or later but just maybe not right now."
Although the negotiations have continued, Nobiss said Canada Post and the CUPW remain far apart. Among the key issues on the table are sick days and employee safety.
"They want to take away our sick leave that we have currently and change it to a short term disability," Nobiss said. "They want to give us seven personal days to do what we want with but those would really be for sick days. And if you are not off for more than five days you don't get to even apply for short-term disability.
"It's a lot different than what we have now. If we are sick, as long as we have hours banked we get our sick pay."
Nobiss said the CUPW also has grave concerns about the safety of their members. She said Canada Post is going through a major transformation that is changing the way letter carriers, mail which has led to a number of injuries for employees.
"We are having more bundles spread out on our arms so there have been lots of shoulder injuries already. There have also been people falling, breaking legs and hurting themselves due to the fact that bags are big and they can't see where they are going. But they feel there are no health and safety issues whatsoever. Whenever we bring it up they say, no we don't see that as being an issue."
It was announced Monday the federal government had tabled back to work legislation in the House of Commons to bring an end to the dispute. However it did not appear a vote would take place until Thursday at the soonest.
Nobiss said she is disappointed the government plans to legislate postal workers back to work and feels that a negotiated settlement would be better for the future of both groups.
"When you are legislated back to work, you don't necessarily get things fixed that really need to be fixed. It would be much better if we could negotiate and work something out that is good for both sides."
