Canada Post didn’t steal Christmas - Capitalism did

Can we all just talk for a second about the whole the Canada Post strike is ruining Christmas thing?

Image source: Social Media

Over the last few weeks, my social media has been filled with posts about how terrible Canada Post is for striking at this time (see above). Sure they have recently been legislated back to work, things will be a bit out of sorts for a while (Although, how backed up is it really, given that it was a rolling strike and mail was still be processed as usual - it’s the time of year for parcels and such to be delayed!). But despite all of this, allow me let you in on a little secret...it’s strategic! They recognize the fighting power they gain from pissing off the whole country in the days and weeks leading up to one of the most hypocritical holidays ever - Christmas.

Before I make my point, why not back it up for a second and look at the two major issues that have led to the latest edition of the Canadian Postal Workers Strike. They are:

A) Pay Equity. Did you know that postal workers are paid in two different ways depending on where they service? For example, urban mail carriers (the majority of whom are male) get paid by the hour. Female carriers sorry, rural carriers (who happen to be majority female) are paid by the size of their service area (a.k.a a lump sum).

B) Workplace safety. I know we all know the stereotype of postmen impregnating the ladies on their route being attacked or chased away by dogs (and let’s face it - there’s probably quite a bit of that!). But lets also consider road conditions - both weather wise and infrastructurally - physical demands, and weather more generally (think the extremes already faced this year - crazy cold with mega snow/ice, torrential downpour leading to flash floods, or heatwaves that lasted for weeks without any relief), among others. Injuries are bound to occur on the job. And, in fact they do... so much so that there’s actually been a rise of 43% over the past 2 years, based on an internal review.

Look, I’m not super in favour of this strike business. It seems like every year they are on strike. But I am, however, a fan of being treated fairly and understanding the desire to work in a safe environment (and lord knows how many times I’ve ranted - fiercely - about the increasingly terrible driver attention over the past year or so!). But both of these reasons seem fairly rational and fair. I want to be paid for the work I’m doing and not feel unsafe while I do it.

Where the strike loses me is when I think about the dying industry that is physical mail. I’m not really sure why the postal service needs to be run in the manner it currently is. Why do residential addresses require daily mail delivery? Wouldn’t it make more sense to reduce the number of delivery days given that so much of what is mailed is junk, since bills and general correspondence are mostly done via the web?

But that’s not really even the problem here. The problem is that no one seems to care about the reasons for the strike (in fact try to find the reasons - it’s not easy!), but rather their precious Christmas gifts. And it’s disheartening that so many people can’t even reconcile why that is the problem at hand. 

Remember when Christmas was about a baby being born miraculously in some random barn? Do you remember when it was about sharing a good meal with your family? Do you remember when it was about anything OTHER than how many gifts you’ll get, who you need to buy for, or how much debt you’ve incurred in the process?

Does no one else think it’s sad that material goods seem to matter more than the quality of a persons work environment, or how they are being paid? I, for one, have struggled with the whole Christmas thing for many years. In fact, the two best Christmases I’ve had in my adult life were spent in Uganda. There was no focus on presents. It was about spending quality time with friends and family. My first Christmas in Uganda was spent exploring the beauty of my other country with two friends, while the next was spent with my good friend’s family. And both were meaningful and impactful, and neither had to do with physical, material goods. They were about experiences. 

I have a rule when it comes to Christmas. Okay, two. First - I don’t acknowledge it until December 23rd. Second - I don’t do gifts. Instead, if I see something I think someone would like/need/benefit from, I buy it and give it to them at that time. Or, I offer to do things (share experiences), such as cook the family dinner, go on a drive, or just simply have a visit that involves one-on-one conversation instead of selfies, social media, or the constant need to be checking a phone. 

I’m really tired of being angry about the way the world works. I am, however, thankful to be in my own home with my pup, and with a job that allows me to life comfortably and travel. But sometimes I think it would be nice to be a hermit. 

-the Orange Canadian