‘Honestly I don’t know’: Fort St. John union chapter president reacts to Canada Post agreement

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — While the country’s postal service and its union representatives came to an agreement, pausing strikes for now, most members are still left in the dark as to what it is.

That’s according to Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) chapter 738 president Babe Seguin, who told Energeticcity.ca that the announcement of an agreement was as surprising as the walk-off in September, saying even she has few details about what a deal could look like.

The union walked off two months ago amid a dispute over “huge cutbacks,” according to CUPW.

This led to nationwide rotating strikes of Canada Post, something Fort St. John joined later in October. 

Both Canada Post and CUPW issued statements on Friday, November 21st. Canada Post stated the two sides had “reached agreements in principle” but have “yet to finalize” details for signing, adding no further comment would be made but strike and lockout actions have been suspended.

Meanwhile, CUPW national president Jan Simpson wrote a letter to members saying “should the tentative agreements not be reached because the parties disagree on how the agreement in principle is reflected in language provisions, the suspension will be lifted for both parties, and the union may continue strike activity.”

“Honestly I don’t know,” said Seguin. “I have contacted both my regional and my national offices, and they are just as tight-lipped.

“We are all very frustrated. I’ve spoken to management, they have assured me they know nothing.”

At issue when postal workers walked off the job this year was the fear that rural offices, protected under a moratorium, could close.

A sign was tied up outside the post office in Fort St. John during strike action, listing branches the union alleged could shutter in the Peace region.

Ultimately, though, Seguin does not think the union “would settle unfavourably.”

“The direction from the membership was very clear,” said Seguin. “I don’t see them just settling or negotiating something that has cause for concern.

“I guess we’re all going to find out at the same time, just like we all did last Friday.”