The Canada Post strike, which began on Friday, could create “another barrier to positive revenue and strong margins for local businesses, Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Lois Ruston said.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) began a national strike early Friday after failing to reach an agreement with their employer. Both parties are still at the negotiating table and talks continue.
This followed the strike notices from CUPW for about 55,000 urban and RSMC (rural and suburban mail carriers) bargaining units. The dispute, which centres around wage increases, pensions and medical leave, started last year.
Ruston told the Sun the strike is hitting small and medium-sized businesses at a critical time.
“Many businesses rely on not only letter mail, as part of their marketing and communication processes, but also the movement of packages. Particularly in advance of the holidays, direct mail and marketing campaigns could be cited, as well as the ability for businesses to get raw products required as part of their processes, or to send finished products to their customers,” she said.
“During what is already a busy time, and what seems like yet another business interruption, layered on top of issue after issue throughout and since the pandemic, this could create another barrier to positive revenue and strong margins for local businesses.”
Business owners, she said, may have to turn to other, more expensive modes of transportation and shipping to maintain operations and customer commitments, which could be “another negative, and unanticipated expense.”
Regarding how to navigate the disruption, Ruston said a collaborative approach would work, tasking business owners and managers to reach out to other businesses to determine how they can work together to overcome these barriers, or perhaps find new vendors who can help keep their business operations moving.
“Digitizing communication and processes (even more) may be required, as well as working with financial partners to explore paperless transaction options,” she said in an interview. “The Chamber is always available to businesses who need to be connected with vendors, suppliers or customers and those who are struggling with this most recent work stoppage are encouraged to reach out to our office.”
Cecily Doyle, owner of Blueprint Agencies, a marketing agency serving small- to medium-sized businesses since 1997, told the Sun that halting mail delivery during the critical holiday season jeopardizes cash flow.
“With many small businesses already struggling due to rising costs and lower revenues, business owners are living month-to-month, doing their best to keep their staff and vendors paid to continue business operations,” she said in an email. “This kind of mail interruption could be a death knell for those already struggling.”
Canadian consumers, businesses, and taxpayers, she said, “will all feel the strain,” adding a timely resolution “is in the best interest of all parties.”
The disruptions have also affected Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), delaying the delivery of critical documents, including driver’s licences, identification cards and cheques, forcing the Crown corporation to seek alternatives.
MPI’s press release issued Friday urged customers to retain their temporary documents and expired licences until permanent replacements arrive.
“If a customer has an urgent need for updated photo identification, they should speak with their broker or an MPI Service Centre representative about their options,” it said. “Customers who don’t receive a statement should keep track of the due date of their insurance and driver’s licence.”
While the immediate impact is concerning, Ruston highlighted broader issues caused by recent labour disruptions in Canada.
“From Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries to MPI, to rail transportation and port services, labour disruptions locally and across the country cost time and money and are a growing concern for our business community,” she said.
“The Chamber has leaned in on this issue with provincial and federal chamber organizations who are advocating all levels of government to address these issues before businesses and citizens are negatively impacted.”
» X: @AbiolaOdutola
This post was originally published on here
