With a possible lockout of Canada Post mail carriers looming, small business owners like Cole Thorpe were left wondering what to do Tuesday.
Thorpe founded clothing company Prairie Proud in April 2014, sending his product by mail. Despite now using a storefront, online retail makes up a large portion of his business.
READ MORE: With Canada Post deadline looming, businesses warn customers about possible work stoppage
He ships 90 per cent of his online orders with Canada Post.
“Now come Friday, I could be really out of luck in terms of reaching those customers,” Thorpe said.
Canada Post has issued a 72-hour notice to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). A work stoppage could be possible as early as Friday.
READ MORE: Canada Post issues 72-hour lockout notice to union
The notice doesn’t necessarily mean the Crown corporation will shut down Friday. It means Canada Post “can take measures that are necessary to respond to the changing business reality,” according to a news release.
While Thorpe can switch to other couriers, he said they are often too expensive to ship to rural P.O. boxes.
“It’s a big concern, in terms of how it’s going to affect my business, not only in the short term, but what if this happens again? How am I going to deal with it?” He said.
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Simply talk of job action has had a negative impact on Canada Post’s bottom line, said Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton.
“We’re seeing a huge hemorrhaging in our business in just the last little while,” Hamilton said.
READ MORE: Canada Post: Trudeau says government not considering back-to-work legislation
The corporation’s top e-commerce customers have preemptively moved 75 per cent of their parcels to other carriers, he added.
CUPW has said it’s seeking pay equity for rural mail carriers – primarily women – who earn 28 per cent less than urban – mostly male – carriers. Employee pension is also a central issue.
“We know that we’re dealing with bully bosses and they’re going to try to provoke our members,” said CUPW president Mike Palecek.
READ MORE: Canada Post work stoppage: What are the negotiations about anyway?
Meanwhile, the founder of Prairie Proud, is one of several small business owners caught in the middle of the dispute.
“It’s definitely a concern of mine and something that I really hope that we don’t have to deal with come later this week,” Thorpe said.
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