Post Office Strike
The 2024 Canada Post strike is an ongoing action against Canada Post. It began on Friday, November 15, and continued through the weekend. Oh no…
I had written earlier that sending parcels to Japan should be done before the busy holiday season. After preparing the parcels for my mother and friend in Japan, I was ready to go to the post office on Saturday. Then, I noticed this news from my husband.
Oh well… It can't be helped, and I don't deny workers' rights. This strike was organized by the national membership of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). When I worked for the school board a few years ago, I experienced a strike myself. My situation at the time was rare, so my case was brought to the union, but they couldn't help me. However, it made me realize how important unions are.
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There is a slight trend in North America toward weakening unions. If that continues, who will protect workers’ wages?
Unfortunately, I had to raise my business fees this fall. During the COVID-19 restrictions, I tried to keep my fees stable out of consideration for my clients’ circumstances. However, after struggling for a few years and with prices rising across the board, I had no choice but to adjust my fees.
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That's why I understand that strikes are sometimes necessary. But now my parcels are stuck at home. Even without the strike, international shipping during this season is usually very slow.
I’ve noticed that receiving parcels from other countries isn’t as bad here, aside from delays caused by customs. However, sending parcels from Canada to Japan often takes even longer, usually due to processing times.
I’m keeping an eye on updates about the post office strike, but the website hasn’t been updated since Friday, the 15th. Of course, with nobody working, it makes sense.
While checking the international parcel information during this time, I also learned that parcel restrictions exist between certain countries due to war conditions. It was shocking to see that information.
I hope the strike will lead to a fair negotiation and resolution soon. Hopefully, I can send my parcels next week or sometime shortly.
Japanese 日本語
郵便局がストライキ中
カナダ郵便局に対する２０２４年分のストライキが起きています。１１月１５日（金）からスタートし、まだ続いています。おぉ…。
少し前のブログに、クリスマスシーズンに日本へ荷物を送るのにはかなり時間がかかることがあるため早めに送ろうと書いたばかりだったので、へこみます。荷物を詰め終わり、あとは先週の土曜日に日本の母と友人に送るだけだったのですが…。主人からストライキのニュースを聞いて事態を知りました。
仕方がない…。従業員の権利を否定する気持ちにはなれません。CUPWというカナダ郵便労働組合に属する従業員たちによるストライキです。数年前、教育現場に属していた時、私も労働組合のストライキの時期を経験しました。ところが、私の雇用形態が稀な状態だったため、どうしようもないということでストライキ参加にはなりませんでした。しかし、労働組合の大切さを認識しました。
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北アメリカでは労働組合を解体していこうというような動きがあるように感じます。もしそうなれば、いったい誰が従業員の雇用形態を守っていくというのでしょうか？
残念ながら、今年の秋から自分の仕事の値上げをしなければなりませんでした。コロナ禍ではみんな同じく大変なので値上げをせずになんとか乗り越えましたが、やはり近頃の物価の高さでは値上げをせざるを得ませんでした。
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ですから、定期的なストライクの必要性があることを仕方がないと思います。しかし、送りたい荷物は相変わらず家の中にとどまっています。ストライキがなかったのしても、国際郵便の配達は遅いです。
海外からの荷物を受け取る場合はそこまで遅さを感じませんが、税関に入ってからは遅いです。税関はかなり時間がかかるので、出てくるまでに時間を要します。
郵便局の再開を確かめるために、ちょこちょこホームページを確認しているのですが、やはり先週の金曜日から動きがありません。誰も働いていないのですからアップデートされなくて当然ですよね。
国際郵便について調べたとき、いくつかの国との間で郵便の制限情報に目がとまりました。それは戦争が起きている国々でしたので、切なくなりました。
そろそろ、ストライキが終了してくれるといいのですが。もうしばらくしたら荷物を送れるようになって欲しいものです。
Thank you for reading!
お読みいただきありがとうございます。
Maybe the situation in Canada is slightly better than the US. Reagan killed unions in the 1980s in America. They have started to make a little bit of a comeback lately. Many Starbucks are unionizing, for example. But it is a hard fight, and the government is doing nothing to protect the people, so often these big corporations just close a location that unionizes.
Anyway, strikes are annoying for all of us, but they are good for the workers. I hope the strike ends there soon so the mail can come and send easier.
Thank you! Yes, I’ve heard about the union situation in the US that was changed by Reagan before. People like that always create chaos, and unfortunately, they seem to enjoy destroying people's rights.
As you said, strikes can be annoying for people, but they are definitely necessary for workers. I can’t remember which teachers it was, but foreign teachers at private English schools in Japan created a union, which sounds like a great idea!