Canada Post rotating strike hits Calgary

Canada Post workers aren't carrying Calgary mail;they're holding picket signsinstead.

On Wednesday, Calgary was named as the nextlocation for the rotating strike, with workers walking off the job at 6 p.m. MT, according to a release fromCanadian Union of Postal Workers.

Anna Beale, a postal clerk with Canada Post and the executive vice president ofCUPWlocal 710,hasbeen working for the company more than 40 years.

"We're closer this time than we were in 2011, which is the last time we were out on strike," she said. "People are enthused, they want Canada Post to get the message."

She said workers want to be on the job, but the only way to negotiate is to take away work so they can seriously negotiate with the company.

Beale said workers in Calgary will continue to strike for 24 hours until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Robert Scobel, media spokesperson for the local union said employees obviously want a new contract, but they want a reliable service that has full time, quality jobs.

"We're not trying to strike on the public, that's one of the reasons the union has taken the rotating strike option," Scobel said. "A lot of our members don't have guaranteed hours, benefits or pensions ... we want good jobs in this community -- it should matter to everyone."

Rotating strikes began on Monday, after negotiators failed to reach a new contract agreement before the union'sstrike deadline.

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The union is pushing for improved job security, an end to forced overtime and better health and safety measures.

Scobel said with the growth of the parcel business, carriers are having to take heavier volumes of deliveries, sometimes working more than eight hours with the heavy loads.

"Quite frankly, it's taking its toll," he said. "Canada Post has the highest rate of injuries in the federally regulated system."

He said the goal is to have people end their careers as healthy as they started them.

The unionrepresents more than 54,000 workers Canada-widein the postal, delivery, logistics, transportation and communication sectors.

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With files from AnisHeydari