The privatization crisis at Canada Post (canadiandimension.com)

submitted 1 week ago by NightOwl@lemmy.ca to c/canada@lemmy.ca

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[-] Medic8teMe@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

Canada post missed the bus when they didn't find a way to pivot and use their infrastructure to create a delivery system for Internet packages. Now they have to try play catch up.

Why aren't they creating delivery services for all goods in every city that they have infrastructure in? Using their employees as delivery drivers or bicycle delivery people. Or even contracting to private business and large corporations to operate mail rooms and internal delivery systems. Why is the federal government allowing someone like Amazon to recently create their own delivery services. Why not nationalize delivery services? There are so many options yet they stay stuck.

If Can post wants to exist they need to find a new way. Letter mail isn't gonna cut it.

[-] sbv@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 week ago

They own Purolator:

Canada Post owns 91 percent of Purolator, a major player in the domestic parcel market. Over the past four years, Purolator’s revenues have averaged approximately $2.5 billion, indicating that Canada Post is far from broke. If Canada Post held exclusive rights to parcel delivery—as it does for letters—it would easily break even.

As the article describes: there are a bunch of gig work companies whose costs are significantly lower than Canada Posts. Straight competition won't work.

Why not nationalize delivery services?

That would require an act of Parliament. Our last dozen or so governments have been pro-business, so that seems unlikely. But we can dream.

[-] grey_maniac@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 week ago

You could force exploitive gig work platforms to meet high labour standards, and even require unionisation of the gig workers to provide basic employment protections. That would help in general because even several government departments use contracted workers to gearound basic labour standards right now.

[-] sbv@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

Agreed. Society would benefit from stronger protections for workers. That is (almost) entirely out of the hands of Canada Post, however. That requires legislation from Parliament.

[-] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

there are a bunch of gig work companies whose costs are significantly lower than Canada Posts.

Costs that are lowered by underpaying their workers. Gig work companies typically treat workers as disposable/replacable contractors doing piecework, not salaried employees who deserve proper benefits and some measure of job security.

[-] Jhex@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Canada post missed the bus when they didn’t find a way to pivot and use their infrastructure to create a delivery system for Internet packages. Now they have to try play catch up.

Canada Post exists as a Crown Corporation under a specific mandate; I don't think they could just pivot to become an internet service provider on their own