As back-to-work legislation forced the end of rotating strikes by Canada Post workers, the agency is warning customers to expect 鈥渓engthy delays鈥 for some types of deliveries.
Canada Post said parcel deliveries will continue, but will be delayed 鈥渄uring the peak holiday season and into January, 2019.鈥
鈥淓xisting backlogs are expected to worsen this week due to high volumes from Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales,鈥 the notice said.
If you鈥檙e expecting a parcel from another country, internationally shipped items may experience delays stretching into March, 2019, Canada Post said.
The agency said it is working with the Canada Border Services Agency, which screens the packages, 鈥渢o manage the significant existing backlog.鈥
The letter mail backlog 鈥渟hould be cleared and deliveries current before Dec. 25,鈥 Canada Post said.
Even though Canada Post workers have been legislated back to work, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has told its members that it will soon begin a campaign of "mobilizations, demonstrations and non-violent civil disobedience."
CUPW national president Mike Palecek told CTV鈥檚 Power Play on Tuesday that 鈥渁ll options are on the table.鈥
鈥淥ver the coming days, you鈥檙e going to see actions unfolding.鈥
Palecek said there鈥檚 鈥渘o such thing as good back-to-work legislation,鈥 and called the current law passed by the House of Commons and the Senate 鈥渦nconstitutional.鈥
鈥淟et鈥檚 be clear 鈥 it will not be business as usual at the post office,鈥 Palecek told Power Play host Don Martin. 鈥淵ou cannot legislate labour peace. You can only negotiate it.鈥