Strike: DHL Express Canada to suspend operations nationwide

 

 

DHL Express Canada plans to shut down operations across the country in response to a strike and lockout by its employees, which includes about 2,100 truck drivers and other workers. The company's decision comes as the strike worsens the crisis in the parcel market. The company said it will stop thousands of daily deliveries starting Friday amid tensions between the two sides.

The company's move comes on the same day that federal legislation banning workers from taking over goes into effect. The strike, which is led by UNIFOR, which represents truck drivers, couriers, warehouse and call centre workers, began on Sunday after DHL Canada Express decided to replace union workers with temporary workers.

DHL said in an email that it would stop accepting packages from overseas to Canada starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday. DHL spokeswoman Pamela Duke-Rae said the shutdown was due to a breakdown in talks with UNIFOR and legislation known as Bill C-58, which would ban the use of substitutes in industrial action. Duke Rai reported that Unifor's bargaining committee met with DHL Express Canada CEO Jeff Walsh last Friday and he stressed the possibility of a shutdown next week.