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Canadian postal workers began their first strike action in Winnipeg at midnight ET after rejecting last-minute contract proposals by Canada Post.
Earlier in the day, the Crown corporation made what it said were a number of compromises on issues including sick days and hiring future employees.
But Canadian Union of Postal Workers president Denis Lemeli said that although there was "some movement" on the part of Canada Post, there was "nothing on the major outstanding issues."
"After more than seven months of difficult and frustrating negotiations, CUPW has initiated strike activity," Lemelin said in a news release issued after 6 p.m. ET Thursday.
"Tonight, members of the Winnipeg local will be the first postal workers to legally strike in more than 13 years."
Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton said they had shared the latest offer with the union Wednesday night and had been told the union would respond Thursday morning.
"Instead, they told us today they would respond tomorrow [Friday] at 11 a.m. We are fully committed to negotiating a deal and avoiding a costly and unnecessary strike, as evidenced by our latest offer and therefore frustrated with the lack of response from the union," Hamilton said.
The union had said Winnipeg would be the focus of the first strike activity by postal workers if it failed to reach a deal with Canada Post by the midnight ET Thursday strike deadline.
Winnipeg was chosen for the first strike activity because it was the first city to be affected by Canada Post's modernization program.
According to the release, the changes resulted in a sharp deterioration of service, as well as health and safety problems for postal workers due to new work methods and equipment.
It said the strike would continue for 24 hours in Winnipeg, then expand to other locations to be announced later.
Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton said the corporation is not contemplating locking out its workers at this time and hopes the union will continue negotiations past the strike deadline.
Canada Post is aware of CUPW intentions for rotating strikes and said its priority remains the safety of its workers and security of the mail and its facilities.
Some mail will get through
Canada Post will cease nearly all mail delivery, with the exception of monthly social assistance payments such as government pension cheques, veteran's cheques, as well as welfare and child benefit cheques.
Those cheques will all be delivered in one day by letter carriers in uniform who had agreed in advance to be on the job through a work stoppage, Hamilton said.
While some retail postal outlets will remain open, all letter boxes will be sealed to prevent mail being "trapped" in the system, he added.
Earlier in the day, the Crown corporation made what it said were a number of compromises on issues including sick days and hiring future employees.
But Canadian Union of Postal Workers president Denis Lemeli said that although there was "some movement" on the part of Canada Post, there was "nothing on the major outstanding issues."
"After more than seven months of difficult and frustrating negotiations, CUPW has initiated strike activity," Lemelin said in a news release issued after 6 p.m. ET Thursday.
"Tonight, members of the Winnipeg local will be the first postal workers to legally strike in more than 13 years."
Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton said they had shared the latest offer with the union Wednesday night and had been told the union would respond Thursday morning.
"Instead, they told us today they would respond tomorrow [Friday] at 11 a.m. We are fully committed to negotiating a deal and avoiding a costly and unnecessary strike, as evidenced by our latest offer and therefore frustrated with the lack of response from the union," Hamilton said.
The union had said Winnipeg would be the focus of the first strike activity by postal workers if it failed to reach a deal with Canada Post by the midnight ET Thursday strike deadline.
Winnipeg was chosen for the first strike activity because it was the first city to be affected by Canada Post's modernization program.
According to the release, the changes resulted in a sharp deterioration of service, as well as health and safety problems for postal workers due to new work methods and equipment.
It said the strike would continue for 24 hours in Winnipeg, then expand to other locations to be announced later.
Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton said the corporation is not contemplating locking out its workers at this time and hopes the union will continue negotiations past the strike deadline.
Canada Post is aware of CUPW intentions for rotating strikes and said its priority remains the safety of its workers and security of the mail and its facilities.
Some mail will get through
Canada Post will cease nearly all mail delivery, with the exception of monthly social assistance payments such as government pension cheques, veteran's cheques, as well as welfare and child benefit cheques.
Those cheques will all be delivered in one day by letter carriers in uniform who had agreed in advance to be on the job through a work stoppage, Hamilton said.
While some retail postal outlets will remain open, all letter boxes will be sealed to prevent mail being "trapped" in the system, he added.