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OTTAWA — Canada Post workers protested Friday after contract negotiations with their employer failed to conclude before the strike deadline — and Ottawa is signaling it’s not ready to intervene.

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The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said about 55,000 workers – including more than 300 in Sudbury – are on strike, saying little progress has been made in the bargaining process.

“The negotiations are very, very difficult,” Labor Minister Steve MacKinnon told reporters in Montreal on Friday, adding that little progress had been made.

MacKinnon said he is working to make it easier to reach a collective agreement, but every day brings “a new set of problems” that complicate efforts to find a solution.

The strike comes just before the busy holiday season and following labor unrest at Canadian ports.

Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said it’s “very bad timing” and a terrible blow to small businesses, most of which still rely on traditional postal service.

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“We’ve only just got the ports back up and running and retailers may well start receiving goods that have been frozen in the ports for a while, but they’re now going to struggle to get them to their end consumer because of the restrictions postal. strike,” he declared.

Kelly said it would also immediately freeze business invoices that are already going through the mail system, sending people “scrambling to try to get money.”

He said Ottawa should move soon to intervene with back-to-work legislation or refer the matter to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

That’s easier said than done, with a federal election expected by next fall and all political parties courting unions. Additionally, Parliament is currently grappling with a privilege debate over the disclosure of government documents, which is preventing legislation from being passed.

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The minister said the government was not considering forcing workers back to work.

When asked if the strike could continue into the holiday season without reaching a settlement, MacKinnon said he “doesn’t anticipate anything other than today to try to facilitate negotiations.”

The Postal Workers Union issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week, saying it has been demanding fair wages, safer working conditions and other improvements over the course of nearly a year negotiations.

Godwin Smith, a longtime member of the Ottawa local union who was on the picket lines Friday, said postal workers are prepared to stay out as long as it takes to get a “fair settlement.”

“We are on strike for fair pay and better working conditions and we are tired of seeing Canada Post come to the bargaining table and ask for rollbacks all the time,” he said.

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Canada Post served the union with a lockout notice this week, but said it had no plans to lock out workers.

The Crown corporation released a statement Friday confirming that customers will experience delays due to the strike.

The statement said mail and packages will not be delivered for the duration of the strike and some post offices will be closed.

Canada Post said closing the facilities would affect its national network, with mail processing and delivery possibly needing time to return to normal once the strike ends.

Here’s what you need to know

How long will it take for my mail to arrive?

Customers should expect delays in mail and package delivery. “Mail and packages will not be processed or delivered for the duration of the national strike and some post offices will be closed. Service guarantees will be affected for items already present in the postal network,” said Canada Post spokesperson Lisa Liu. Once operations resume, Canada Post said all mail will be delivered as quickly as possible on a first-in, first-out basis.

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Can I still send mail during the strike?

Canada Post states that no new items will be accepted until the national disruption is over. As the holiday season begins, Jim Bookbinder, a professor of management science at the University of Waterloo, says if it’s important mail, like a Christmas present, it might be worth considering sending the item via another courier service.

I ordered from a small business. Will I get it in time?

For small businesses, using courier services other than Canada Post could provide more certainty in getting their items to customers, but it will cost more.

Will I still receive my government welfare checks?

Canada Post and the union have agreed to continue distributing government benefit checks, such as the Canada Child Benefit, Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan, during the work disruption. It says seniors and others who rely on the postal service will receive financial assistance in a timely manner.

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All November checks are expected to be delivered on November 20.

Service Canada urged Canadians to open online accounts and direct deposits to receive their benefits without delay.

I’m waiting for my new passport to arrive in the mail. What is happening now?

Canada Post said in an email that all mail, including passports, will be sent on a first-in, first-out basis when operations resume. Service Canada said anyone who applied for a new passport and chose to receive it by mail should expect delays.

Those who need a passport urgently should contact the Passport Program or visit a Service Canada Center to have their passport application transferred to one of the 60 passport offices that offer a pick-up service.

What about bank statements?

Many Canadian banks are encouraging their customers to move to online statements and electronic banking to stay on top of their statements, bills and other banking communications.

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