Canada Post is notifying customers of a possible labour disruption that could stop your mail from moving.
The union representing postal workers and Canada Post have been unable to reach an agreement on a new contract.
If a deal can't be hammered out in the next two weeks, a work stoppage is possible.
In a world of email, online banking and bill payments Kristy Schroeder's inbox has become more useful than her mailbox.
"I don't send a lot of mail or receive a lot of mail other than packages from online shopping," she said.
She may soon have to make new plans for parcel delivery, at least temporarily.
"Even though none of my bills or anything like that comes via the mail anymore, I certainly appreciate the service that they provide and I would miss it," said Schroeder.
Canada Post said it's still in talks with the union, but spokesperson Jon Hamilton said if no deal is reached by the end of the conciliation period on July 2, a labour disruption could happen.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said it is also preparing members for the possibility of a work stoppage, but still hopes a deal can be reached.
"We have about 21 days until there can be a legal labour dispute," union representative Basia Sokal said. "It's really unfortunate because Canada Post provides a service to all Canadians and it's sustainable and it's efficient."
"We don't want a lockout and we don't want a strike. Postal workers want to deliver the mail."
A work stoppage could affect 40,000 workers, including rural delivery agents, as well as urban letter carriers and plant workers.
A disruption to deliveries would be bad news for Lisa Sinnicks. She owns a small business called The Seniors Moving Company.
Sinnicks uses Canada Post to send estimates and invoices to her customers. Once the work's been completed her customers usually send her payment in the mail.
"It would be alot more running around for me and probably a lot more anxiety and stress for them to get their bills paid, because a lot of the older demographic, especially the 80 pluses, still pay their bills in the traditional way."
The province has arranged for all government cheques and other essential mail to be available for pickup beginning Monday, June 20.
Approximately 50,000 cheques are mailed by the Manitoba government every month.
If the strike doesn’t happen, regular government mail will resume as quickly as possible.
Before picking up cheques, call 1-866-626-4862 or visit www.manitoba.ca to ensure they are at your pickup location. The various locations through Manitoba will be open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., unless listed otherwise. You will need proper identification in order to pick up cheques.
For other programs, follow these instructions:
• New and replacement health cards and temporary out-of-province certificates can be picked up on the main floor at 300 Carlton St.
• For information on maintenance enforcement cheques, call 204-945-1761 or email the program at ManitobaMEPInquiries@gov.mb.ca.
• For regular cheques by mail from the Public Guardian and Trustee, contact the Adult Services Administrator directly to make alternate arrangements.
• For information about Employment Manitoba cheques and where to pick up, call 204-945 0575 in Winnipeg or 1-866-332-5077 (toll-free).
• For information about Disaster Financial Assistance cheques and where to pick up, call 204-945-3030 in Winnipeg or 1-888-267-8298 (toll-free).
• For information about Workers Compensation Board cheques and where to pick up, call 204-954-4321 in Winnipeg or 1-855-954-4321 (toll-free).
• Tax return due dates remain unchanged. Visit www.gov.mb.ca/finance/taxation for more information.
• Manitoba housing cheques, including STAT55, rent supplement and portable housing benefit, are to be picked up at 200-352 Donald St.
