Two Canadian cities hit by postal strikes

OTTAWA, June 7 (UPI) -- Canadian postal workers went on 24-hour strikes Tuesday in Victoria, British Columbia, and Moncton, New Brunswick, union officials said.

The rotating 24-hour strikes began last week and have affected Winnipeg, Manitoba, Hamilton, Ontario, and on Monday, Montreal.

In seven months of negotiations, the Canada Post government corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have failed to reach a compromise on wages, benefits and pensions.

Canada Post claims traditional mail volumes are shrinking and there are no longer profits. The corporation has already withdrawn plans to hire more part-time workers, Postmedia News said.

The union counter-claims more automation is crowding out workers and that they're not being trained on safely operating the new systems.

Both sides have agreed in the event of a full national strike, government social-assistance payments and pensions, welfare, child benefits and veteran's benefits will still be delivered.