Military Families have other options to send care packages in event of a Canada Post strike

With Canada Post employees set to strike early next week, military families have another option to send care packages this holiday season.

Earlier this week the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) gave their notice to strike, with rotating strikes planned to start as early as midnight on Monday, October 22, 2018.

Jon Hamilton, spokesperson for Canada Post says that they have made many offers to CUPW, which include higher wages, job security, and improved benefits.

“We value the relationship with the union and have been able to find common ground on some issues and have also committed to work together constructively on several important files,” says Hamilton in a press release. “Those include working together to address employees workload concerns caused by parcel growth, additional financial services and going beyond pay equity for Rural and Suburban employees by extending job security and moving to one uniform.”

Although Canada Post will remain open for business, there is no guarantee of service if the strike rotations begin. Canada Post will be notifying customers of potential disruption and delays they may experience when sending mail and parcels by Canada Post.

As the largest parcel shipping company in the country, according to last year’s statistics, Canada Post delivered over one million parcels a day during the 2017 holiday season.

Many military families count on Canada Post’s free shipping program to send Christmas packages to their deployed love one during the holiday season. With the strike looming, military families do have other options to make sure their packages arrive to their family members.

“Morale Mail dropped off at MFRC (Military Family Resource Centre) locations will not be impacted by the strike,” says Jackie Claré, executive director of the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Center.

She recommends families drop off their packages at their closest MFRC. If that is not possible, there are other approved drop-off locations throughout the country and is recommended that families contacting their local MFRC for a list of locations that accept morale mail.

CAF connection has posted the steps to be able to send mail and parcels through morale mail.

All packages must be securely packaged to avoid damage and leaking. Place breakable items or liquid substances within a strong outer container to avoid damaging other items. Canadian Forces Morale Mail is not insurable or traceable.