Central B.C.'s rural residents and businesses won't be left stranded, representatives of three major courier companies assured Wednesday, should a Canada Post workers act on a threat to go on strike.
Urban postal workers will be in a legal strike position by at 8:59 p.m. PDT today.
In a press release issued Tuesday, Canada Post warned that it's the main parcel delivery service in many rural and remote communities and competitors rely on Canada Post to provide delivery service outside large metropolitan cities.
"A mail strike would virtually shut down parcel delivery in rural and remote communities and disrupt the ability of rural Canadians to receive crucial documents such as passports, medical test results and licenses," Canada Post said.
"Canadians in the Far North would be particularly affected, as Canada Post is an essential link for receiving virtually everything."
But representatives of Purolator, FedEx and DHL said clients in rural communities surrounding Prince George will continue to receive service although all three will be busier than usual as more people turn to them to get their mail and parcels delivered.
"From our perspective, we have an extensive network and very deep into rural Canadian communities," Purolator spokesman Paul Merrick said.
"Certainly, there are places that Canada Post network go to that we do not but we're talking pretty remote."
FedEx spokesman James Anderson said his company's first priority is to maintain service to current customers but will also be able to serve new customers "who find themselves in a bit of a lurch or a jam."
DHL spokesman Andrew Williams had a similar message and added he would "challenge Canada Post a little bit in their assessment that they're the only ones who can provide service to rural and remote communities."
Canada Post chief executive Deepak Chopra and national union president Denis Lemelin met in Ottawa yesterday to find common ground to avoid a disruption of mail service and settle lengthy contract negotiations.
Canada Post says it needs to address labour costs in this round of negotiations and noted that letter-mail business has fallen by more than 17 per cent since 2006 due to digital communications.
The union has said a key sticking point is sick leave for employees.
The union's final offer Monday included several amendments and clarifications to its positions - including a drop in its wage demands. CUPW also agreed to Canada Post's request for a four-year collective agreement.
Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has urged the two sides to reach a negotiated settlement, saying that any work stoppage would impact Canada's economic well being.
The last time the union went on strike was the fall of 1997 and workers were off the job for two weeks before being forced back to work by federal legislation.
Contract negotiations for the roughly 50,000 urban postal workers began last fall.
- with files from The Canadian Press
