CUPW postal staff stopping delivery of flyers and newspapers as strike action

Derek Kilbourn
Sounder News

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers announced on September 12 that as of Monday, Sept. 15 at 12:01 a.m. local time, its members would stop delivering flyers and products, including newspapers, sent under a Neighbourhood Mail agreement.

This will directly impact the mailbox delivery of the Gabriola Sounder.

Canada Post issued a statement saying ,“We are disappointed in CUPW’s decision to ban the delivery of Neighbourhood Mail, which we only learned about through their news conference. This decision will impact the thousands of Canadian businesses that reach their customers with information and offers through the mail. It will also impact CUPW-represented employees who are paid to deliver flyers on top of their wages.”

Newspapers sent out to paid subscribers are unaffected and will continue to be delivered.

Plans are in place to utilize news stands around Gabriola to ensure Sounders go out while CUPW has postal delivery on hold

Jan Simpson, National President for CUPW, said in a statement, “Postal workers can’t bargain with themselves. We need Canada Post to get back to the table and negotiate now! The silence from Canada Post speaks volumes. That’s why we are forced to escalate our actions.

“We can’t let Canada Post ignore us anymore. Postal workers need new contracts, and they need them now. It’s well past time Canada Post respond to our proposals. As we head towards another holiday season, the public is counting on stability. Canada Post needs to get back to the bargaining table to ensure stability to the postal system.”

Copies of the Sounder will still be available for pick up at the following regular news stand locations:

• L’il Market at Page’s Marina

• Nesters Market

• Mid Island Co-op

• Nature Spirit Earth Market

• Island Home and Garden

• Mad Rona’s

• Wishbone

• Arbutus Home Building Centre

• Gabriola Sounder office

• The Gabriola Library

• Ground Up

• Village Liquor Store

• Nanaimo Ferry Terminal

Pickup boxes have also been added these locations:

• White Sounder Box at North Road and Barrett.

• White Sounder Box at Twin Beaches Centre.

• White Sounder Box at Peterson and North Road.

• Small Metal box at Peterson and South Road.

• Small Metal box at Coats and South Road.

• White Sounder Box at Ferne Road and South Road

• Green box by the bike racks at the Descanso Terminal

• Blue box at the Ferry Lineup Turnaround

• Metal Box at mailboxes at Chelwood and Hemlock

• Metal Box at mailboxes at Easthom and Harrison

• Metal Box at mailboxes at corner of Tyee/Blueback

Try out Digital Delivery

If you are on island and would like to trial a digital subscription during any Canada Post strike action go to the Subscription page to set up a free trial digital subscription using the promotional code “SounderDelivered”

We will then add you to the weekly digital subscription list for the duration of the Canada Post strike action. The code will go active on the first Wednesday impacted by a strike.

If you have any questions please let us know. If a box or news stand is empty, please let us know.

Call 250-247-9337 or email sarah@soundernews.com or derek@soundernews.com