The City of St. Albert is making some adjustments due to the Canada Post strike, including extending transit passes one month.
November local passes will continue to work in December, according to a note posted to the city’s website.
This does not apply to the Commuter pass, which can be used to travel to Edmonton.
“If an individual, for whatever reason, is uncomfortable using the November Local pass, they are welcome to come to St. Albert Place to pick up a December Local pass in person,” the note read.
Commuter passes will continue to be sold in person at St. Albert Place as usual.
The city also points out that utility bills can be paid without licking a single stamp:
- Customers can enroll in pre-authorized withdrawal to ensure their utility payments are made on time without needing to view a copy of their bill. Phone 780-459-1520, option 2 or email [email protected];
- Payments can be made through most financial institutions via telephone or online banking;
- Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays, payments for all services can be made in-person at Customer Service, main floor, St. Albert Place, 5 St. Anne St.;
- Outside of these hours, payments can be made dropping a cheque or money order – but not cash – into the quick drop box to the right of the main entrance at St. Albert Place.
All that said, the MyCity portal, which hosts the e-billing apparatus, is down for maintenance.
“Customers can find out their utility balance by emailing [email protected] or by calling Utilities Services at 780-459-1520, option 2,” the note reads. “We are working to restore services as soon as possible and apologize for the inconvenience this has caused.”
Canada Post will continue to deliver government cheques for seniors and other recipients.
Other municipal services are being reviewed and more changes could be made if the labour dispute drags on. More details could be made available next week.
Canada Post workers say they’re striking to get back the purchasing power that’s been eroded by inflation and for safer working conditions. The corporation says it is bleeding cash and needs to find a way to compete with private services that deliver on weekends.
Some postal workers have seen a 50 per cent drop in their purchasing power of since 2006, according to CUPW 730 acting president James Ball.
Ball said workers also want Canada Post to halt its rollout of a new policy that would add about seven kilometres to the average letter carrier’s route, resulting in slower deliveries and more risk of injury.
“We have the highest injury rate of any federal sector of employment and they insist on trying to injury us more.”
Visit canadapost.ca/negotiations or cupw.ca for updates on this labour dispute.
