Dozens rally in support of Canada Post workers

Dozens of people rallied outside Winnipeg South Centre member ofParliamentJim Carr's office Saturdayafternoon to throw their support behind Canada Post workers.

There are just five days left before the Canadian Union of Postal Workers' (CUPW) strike mandate expires.Union officials say negotiating with Canada Post without the mandate is not an option.

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"They're fighting for things like pay equity. They're fighting for pensions for their members," said Marianne Hladun, the regional executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Hladun said the federal Liberals still haven't changed the postal workers' strike mandate left by the previous Conservative government leaving workers with no choice but to strike.

"The reality is the workers at Canada Post they don't want to go on strike, they want to be able to provide service to Canadians," she said.

Basia Sokal, the vice-president of the Winnipeg branch of CUPW, said the union is concerned about pay equity for female workers.

"Our rural unit, which is about 70 per cent female dominated, gets paid 30 per cent less approximately than the male dominated unit," Sokal said.

CBC News tried reaching Jim Carr's office for comment but have yet to hear back from the office.