Monday, May 30, 2011

To Post or Not to Post?

[updated June 2] 
Say what you want about the role of Canada's postal service in our "e-nabled" age of online billing, banking, emailing and socializing, but there's no time like the present day state of postal union negotiations to contemplate the reasons we'd miss our snail mail.

If you haven't yet heard, Canada's magazine industry is atwitter about the possibility of a strike as, at latest word, it's announced that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) intends to begin strike activities at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 2, 2011. This doesn't mean that it's a done deal, but after seven months of negotiations this 72-hour strike notice means business--or no business, if you're in the magazine industry.

In the meantime, publishers and printers are forced to sit on their latest issues and direct mail campaigns until further word. Freelancers are left wondering if that much anticipated cheque will arrive. Many businesses still pay bills with cheques, and question whether they should risk it or go the pricey-but-reliable courier route.

If you're looking for updates and insight on the strike, here are a couple of resources:
 
    --- Rebecca Lesser
    AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator