News that the Canada Post lockout might be ended by a government motion for return to work will do little to ease the pain of small businesses.
Oddly, the folks we deal with most weeks at the post office have little use for the strike. They would rather be working. Having said that, their small-town work ethic is quickly diluted by larger centres which, since getting into strike mode, are more belligerent than usual.
Average folks don’t understand it.
First, the move to go on strike, arguably at the tail end of the recession when things aren’t great yet, was surprising. Second was the move by employer Canada Post to lock out its workers – who up until then had only engaged in rotating strikes. Sure the cost of distributing without a full complement of mail is considerable, but the absence of local mail is what has been really harmful to many small businesses.
Luckily, the new Minister of Labour, Lisa Raitt, seems to have a handle on the necessity for postal service. Legislation has been introduced and is moving the process along, which could see workers back on the job next week. That is none too soon.
Talking with others about this problem, one senior was quite happy to have her cheque in hand. Another is worried about her bills and if late charges will result, since she has no invoices on which to pay a cheque at the bank even. We understand other entitlement cheques were delivered, too. But we want to raise a point that few readers, unless engaged in a business themselves, would consider.
More often than not, small business operates like many households. The pay cheque is a very important part of a work week and without it, the business is in great peril. There are bills to pay, staff to pay, invoices to mail, and paperwork to file. In order to meet expenses, those businesses need cheques. We suggest a great imposition has been placed on small businesses that have had to shift gears and either email bills, pick up cheques, or run around doing things that aren’t productive in terms of their business. On that basis, we agree wholeheartedly with the government’s action.
The suggestion by official opposition leader Jack Layton and his Ministry of Labour critic that the action is too heavy handed, speaks to that party’s naivety when it comes to business – of any size.
Even local government appears to understand small business as the stewards of local commerce.
We were dumbfounded to show up at work and be greeted by a pleasant young woman delivering cheques to suppliers for the township of Centre Wellington. It was most unexpected and will be remembered for some time as a very thoughtful gesture as small businesses endure this strike.
Other customers have been equally forthcoming, dropping off payments to suppliers too. Small businesses are somewhat of a community of people and it is rewarding to see the sense of empathy for what each of us face as a great challenge.
We hope for the sake of all, work resumes soon and the mail gets flowing again.
