The union representing Canada Post workers is gearing up for rotating strikes if negotiations with the Crown Corporation fail over the weekend.
50,000 CUP-W members could walk off the job at 12:01am Monday morning.
The possibility of a work stoppage has been lingering at Canada Post after postal workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action to back contract demands.
"Wages in the last 10 years, we haven't even stayed up with the rate of inflation and the cost of benefits has increased so much that we're actually taking home less now than we did in 2008," says Local 630 President Phil Lyons.
He says there are key concerns that need to be addressed.
"There's health and safety issues — carriers right now are required on foot walks to work out of two bundles which is letters and oversized mail on your forearms and then the small parcels are stuffed in a bag and the injury rates have jumped 43% in the last few years."
"They're being forced to work overtime," says Lyons "It's basically because there measurement system for work has fallen so far behind it doesn't reflect the reality for the post office of 2018. Parcels take a lot longer to deliver. The routes have gotten a lot longer."
The union wants improved job security, an end to forced overtime, and better health and safety measures.
The locations for rotating strikes, if necessary, have not been announced.