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By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com

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Mail will be delivered as usual Monday, Canada Post says, even if one of its unions walks off the job.

John Caines, the manager of national media relations for Canada Post, said the Union of Postal Communications Employees, which has about 2,200 members across the country and about 100 members in Fredericton, is predominately composed of administrative and technical workers who don't handle the mail.

"Employees who are responsible for collection and delivery of the mail are members of a separate union," Caines said. "They have a valid contract with us and we expect them to honour that contract and come to work. There is a protocol between unions in terms of crossing picket lines and coming to work, and there is a consequence if they don't (come to work)."

Gena Clowater, who speaks for the union in Fredericton, said a strike won't halt mail delivery, but it may cause slowdowns elsewhere.

"It will really affect the public that calls in to Canada Post for general information," Clowater said.

"All those people out there right now who are ready to send Christmas packages out to their family members and friends ... won't be able to call anyone to track their package or get any help with information on how to mail things because there will be no one there to answer the call."

Clowater said if the strike goes ahead, there will be picket lines set up at the contact centre at 35 Hughes St. and possibly at other Canada Post location across the city.

"We don't know at this point when we could be out on strike or what it will look like - whether it will be general or rotating," Clowater said.

The implementation of a new short-term disability system has emerged as the main issue between the two parties.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents the postal employees' union, said the strike will begin Monday if negotiations remain at an impasse.

The collective agreement between the alliance and Canada Post expired Aug. 31.

According to the union, Canada Post is attempting to implement a new short-term disability system that would rely on Employment Insurance as a major part of a new and minimal short-term disability plan.

"We really see this as an abuse of the EI program," Clowater said. "With the economic crisis as it is right now, we think EI benefits should be there for people losing their jobs and not help Canada Post write off sick leave as a liability on their balance sheet."

Caines said Canada Post hopes the union will come back to the bargaining table.

"The thing that we're having a problem with right now is that, in this day and age, in the current economic climate everybody is going through right now, the union is being offered continued job security provisions," Caines said.

"They have a fully indexed pension, (and) salary increases for their members, but they would like to go on strike over a benefit package that is much better than most Canadian workers currently have.

"We don't understand why they are doing this."