Whether Canada post strike or lockout happens this weekend or not, Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security cheques can still be seen in the mail.
According to the Canada Revenue Agency, the said cheques and the Canada Child Benefit, the Working Income Tax Benefit are considered essential and can still be delivered despite the labor disturbance. Furthermore, cheques for the Working Income Tax Benefit are expected to be delivered on July 5, while the others are expected to arrive on July 20.
On the other hand, the CRA announced that all other government benefit payments will not be mailed until Canada Post’s normal operations resume. To avoid payment delays, it recommends those expecting for refunds or rebates to register for direct online deposit through this site http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/. For those who are collecting Employment Insurance who cannot make it for direct deposit can contact Service Canada to request their cheques be delivered to any Service Canada location nearest to them for pick up.
As of Saturday, about 50,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers will be in a legitimate labor strike or lockout position and the union has no immediate plans for a work stoppage.
Both the union and the Canada Post consider the changes to employee pension plans as the most important point in the negotiations. CP offers defined-contribution pension plans to new employees. But CUPW asks for the extension of Saturday’s deadline to study carefully the offer. Way back 2011, Canada Post experienced a labor strike and legislated back to work Ottawa.
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