A Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) national strike is impacting local businesses from its onset.
CUPW represents 55,000 employees across the country and were locked out by Canada Post as of 8 a.m. last Friday. According to a Canada Post negotiation update, the strike will result in customers experiencing delays. Additionally, mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered during the strike and some post offices will be closed.
“After a year of bargaining with little progress, postal workers made the difficult decision to strike. Canada Post had the opportunity to prevent this strike, but it has refused to negotiate real solutions to the issues postal workers face every day. Instead, Canada Post left us no choice when it threatened to change our working conditions and leave our members exposed to layoffs,” CUPW’s statement says.
The strike, which began at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 15, has pushed Novel Idea, an independent bookstore in downtown Kingston, to contend with shipping challenges brought on by the postal disruption.
For Novel Idea, located at Princess and Bagot St., the strike presents a manageable inconvenience rather than a crisis. Opened in 1988, the family-run business depends on postal services to receive inventory and fulfil customer orders beyond Kingston. While most of the bookshop’s customers shop in-store, the strike has delayed shipments for out-of-town buyers.
The small business has held shipments for now and is holding off on implementing a detailed contingency plan, Nicola Malan, Novel Idea’s part-owner and manager said in an interview with The Journal. However, the store will adapt if needed.
“If the strike continues longer than anticipated, we’ll use services like UPS or FedEx for urgent shipments, though it’s not ideal due to higher costs. The strike is a minor hiccup for shipping, but our local customers keep our business thriving,” Malan said.
The shift to alternatives comes with increased shipping costs, which Malan says the store hopes to avoid passing on to customers since the change will increase shipping costs for customers.
With the holidays quickly approaching, the bookshop remains optimistic about keeping the shelves stocked and spirits high.
One product particularly affected by the strike is the bookshop’s popular Christmas cards. According to Malan, sales have slowed this year as customers are hesitant to send cards by mail during the disruption.
“Our Christmas cards usually sell really well, but this year, we’ve noticed a significant drop since we send them by Canada Post, so I think our customers are not able to buy as much because of that,” Malan said.
Despite these challenges, the store continues to thrive thanks to strong community support. Novel Idea offers free hand delivery for local orders and relies heavily on in-person sales, which remain robust.
“Most of our customers buy in-person anyway, so they’ll need to come into the store to browse our stock,” Malan said.
The Canada Post strike may present a minor inconvenience, but it also highlights the resilience of small businesses like Novel Idea. As Malan pointed out, the local customer base plays a critical role in helping the bookshop weather these disruptions. The store continues to host events like book launches and readings, drawing customers into the shop and fostering a sense of community.
“We encourage everyone to stop by, browse, and enjoy what we have to offer,” Malan said.
For updates on upcoming events and inventory, Novel Idea invites customers to visit their website or stop by the downtown store.
Tags
Canada Post, downtown Kingston, National strike, Novel Idea, small businesses
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