Alberta Rural Post Offices Feel the Shocks of the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate | The Canadian News

Almost a month after the Canada Post implemented its policy of mandatory vaccinations for employees, rural Alberta communities are still feeling the shock and mourning the loss of jobs.

Carolyn Fritzler has lived in Didsbury for almost 40 years and was surprised last week to hear that her local post office was closed for two days.

The doors were reopened, but the wait times were quite long.

“We came last week, my husband had to send certified mail and we were parked across the street,” Fritzler said.

“They were in line outside for 45 minutes waiting to get in and I guess it’s because maybe they were understaffed, I don’t know.”

Alberta President of the Canadian Association of Posts and Assistants, Xan Moffat-Toews, confirmed that at least one employee at the Didsbury Post Office has been on unpaid leave due to his vaccination status.

He said that the closure of Didsbury last week was due to a positive case of COVID-19, but that the office is also not understaffed.

In a statement, Canada Post confirmed the closure, but only cited personnel issues.

“The Didsbury Post Office was closed (on) Friday and Saturday due to an unexpected staffing problem, with a temporary fix not available,” the statement said.

Although residents are feeling the shock during the holiday season, many are more upset that employees are unable to return to work due to their vaccination status.

“In a small town like this, it’s very difficult to get it to balance and function properly when you start closing people’s jobs. Very quickly it affects other companies as well, and I think that’s really sad, ”Fritzler said.

“I feel bad for people who are not entertaining for Christmas, but more importantly, now there are people who are being fired,” said Janice Raynard, who is also a Didsbury resident.

Canada Post’s vaccination mandate went into effect on November 26 and requires all employees to be at least partially vaccinated.

“Rural offices are quite different from cities simply because we know all of our clients. You know them by name, we know their brothers, sisters and uncles, and you know, we are in the community. We are very involved in our communities, ”explained Moffat-Toews.

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Moffat-Toews said about 340 workers in Alberta were laid off without pay in late November.

It said it initially closed 13 offices and cut hours at others.

“Alberta was probably the hardest hit with the closures,” he said. “What happens when a catastrophe like this happens? We are so short, so they take a member from a larger office and put him in a small office. When they do that, they make everyone else short. “

He adds that not only were post office employees affected, but he also saw a shortage of route drivers who deliver mail.

“There have been many of those people as well. So when you have a route down, you usually deliver five days a week. Then they will find someone else to replace that person and maybe do it two days a week. It is a great inconvenience for those clients, ”he said.

Moffat-Toews said about 150 workers were on leave without pay as of Dec. 21.

Meanwhile, Canada Post says the vast majority of its employees across the country are complying with the vaccine mandate.

However, in Didsbury, residents hope that communication with the community will improve.

Crystal Wollman said that when the office closed last week, no one had a clue why. She said this caused rumors to spread and increased division in the community.

“I think the Canada Post can discuss that and have clear communication about what is happening. Instead of not responding, it would be great, ”Wollman said.

Moffat-Toews ensures that Albertans in rural Alberta will continue to receive their mail, it may take a little longer.

“We have a lot of very stressed people trying to get everyone to be perfect. It will be, it always ends up being good because they go further every day. Members in rural offices ”.

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