With coffee, cookies and a portable fire unit, Summerland members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers continue to picket in front of the post office on Victoria Road North.

Some passing motorists honk or wave, and pedestrians will chat with the striking workers.

But Christine Durocher, one of the people on the picket line, said the workers would prefer to be on the job, not on the line. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a party,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e would much rather be working.鈥�

The strike began on Nov. 15 and at present, a mediator has been called in to help resolve the nationwide labour dispute.

Until a resolution is reached, the workers will continue their pickets. During that time, they are not paid, affecting their finances and resources.

Dale Hooper, a long-time postal worker in Summerland, said the vast majority of responses from the public are positive.

However, Durocher said there are many who do not understand the reasons behind the strike.

Across Canada, around 55,000 employees represented by the union have been off the job since Nov. 15.

At issue are wages, job security, benefits and contract work for parcel delivery on weekends.

The union is asking for a cumulative wage hike of 24 per cent over four years, while Canada Post has offered an increase of 11.5 per cent.

Negotiations began in November 2023, and Durocher wonders why a settlement has not been reached in that time. 

The labour dispute is affecting many Canadians, especially small businesses who depend on the post office, she said. 

Hooper is optimistic that a resolution will be reached.  鈥淭hey鈥檙e still talking. That鈥檚 good news,鈥� he said.

Postal workers last were on strike in 2018. At that time, there were six months of rotating strikes. The job action did not shut down the Summerland post office but resulted in temporary shutdowns in larger cities in Canada.

In late November of that year, the federal government passed Bill C-89 to end the strike. Postal workers were mandated to return to work. They worked without a contract until September 2021, when a two-year agreement was reached.

Canada Post has had a long history of labour relations difficulties with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. From 1965 to 1997, there were at least 19 strikes, lockouts and walkouts. 

In June 2011, a labour action involving rotating strikes affected mail delivery. Less than two weeks later, Canada Post locked out its union workers. Back-to-work legislation was eventually passed. 

Hooper said the post office provides an important service for Canadians. He said during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the post office was designated as an essential service. This designation should be remembered now, he said.