OTTAWA—While postal operations are back in swing following a lockout, the Crown corporation is telling its customers there's currently no guarantee when their mailings will be delivered.

Canada Post says its employees are dealing with a backlog of mail from an almost two-week lockout of postal workers, and that large-volume customers are advised to schedule their mail deposits.

Large volume mailers are "to work with their local commercial service or sales contacts to effectively manage their induction schedule", noted Canada Post. Business customers can contact a commercial service network agent at 1-866-757-5480.

Due to the backlog, Canada Post has suspended all service guarantees until further notice. The date-specific option on unaddressed admail is also currently unavailable.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Major Mail Users (NAMMU) says several of its members "have reported their frustration with staging of mail entry and erratic mail delivery, particularly in Toronto."

NAMMU has delivered a "stop-gap" funding request for small mail businesses to Maxime Bernier, Minister of State for Small Businesses, on behalf of the Value Add Mailer (VAM) Council. "The Stop-Gap Working Capital Assistance Program would help these small businesses get back on their feet and deliver resounding, positive effects to the Canadian economy," noted NAMMU. 

The national union representing postal workers (CUPW) on June 28 lashed out at Canada Post, claiming the corporation has instructed postal workers in Montreal, Windsor, Hamilton, Scarborough and Kitchener "to return all their undelivered mail to their originating office after eight hours of work" despite "piles of backlogged mail" in depots.