Union slams Canada Post delivery changes

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Dozens of postal workers were delivering mail in the Maritimes over the long weekend due to a backlog caused by structural changes made by Canada Post, according to the union representing the employees.

Across the Maritimes, the carriers were logging extra hours Saturday to clear up an excess of undelivered mail.

Jeff Beckerson, president of the Nova Scotia division of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, said thousands of letters and parcels are sitting in plants waiting to be delivered.

"They are paying workers about $50 an hour on a Saturday to clear up the backlog that Canada Post created," he said this weekend.

In August, Canada post announced it would stop using three separate trucks to drop off mail at collection boxes, deliver parcels, and pick up outgoing mail.

A Canada Post spokeswoman said she was not aware of a backlog in the Maritimes, but acknowledged the delivery changes have led to overtime in other cities. But she also said that the new delivery system is necessary to improve efficiency and ensure that the Crown corporation — which is self-supporting — does not require a taxpayer subsidy.

Canada Post has said the new delivery system would save $250 million over six years.

Beckerson said the backlog shows the new system is failing.

Halifax resident Jan Devox said she heard something out of the ordinary on Saturday — mail being dropped in her mailbox.

"I thought I'd check it, I said, 'I am sure I checked it yesterday,' but yeah, it went there today," said Devox.