OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Canada Post workers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate.

This does not mean there will be a disruption to mail delivery service, but members of CUP-W will be in a legal strike position as of Sept. 26 if the parties cannot reach an agreement.

Votes were held across Canada between Aug. 7 and Sept. 9, with more than 90 per cent of workers saying they are ready to take action if necessary.

Workers and the postal service have been negotiating contracts with the help of a third party after collective agreements governing working conditions at Canada Post expired in December of 2017.

“Over the last decade, the working conditions of all our members has deteriorated, leaving many overburdened, with little time for their home life,” Mike Palecek, National President of CUPW, said. “This ends now. Our members have spoken — this is the time to address serious workplace problems.”

The CUPW also wants talks to look at renewing the post office with “expanded services.”

Statement from federal Employment Minister @MinWorkDev’s office on Canada Post union voting in favour of a strike mandate #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/ryBWvFtWMq — Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) September 11, 2018

The union had told its members earlier on Tuesday to stock up on prescription medications in case a strike or lockout was approved, because health benefits could be cut off in either situation.

The CUPW has called this round of bargaining “difficult” and “complex,” as parties have had to look at addressing new issues in the changing natural of postal work. This includes “the continued explosion of parcel volumes, which has placed huge burdens on members,” the union said.

Issues also include outstanding issues and equality for Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers, for whom the union wants to see guaranteed minimum hours and job security, equal pay, as well as other equality measures.

“Our negotiators will continue to work with Canada Post to develop a fair agreement for all our workers, and we will not settle for less,” says Palecek. “Our membership has given us a clear mandate to take job action if Canada Post doesn’t come to the bargaining table ready to make some changes to give our workers fair working conditions and expanded services benefiting everyone.”

Canada Post presented the union with officers on Sept. 7, which Palecek has said were “simply not good enough.”

With files from the Canadian Press