Who will care?

This morning on CBC the question was asked as to the impact a mail strike would have on each of us. My answer is: none.

A while back the threat of a mail strike sent shivers up the back of businesses. As a result of past strikes many businesses found new ways to operate. Courier services sprung up, drop box were instituted and 'runners' were hired.

With the advent of technology, bills now come and are paid on line. Pay and pension cheques are auto deposited. Email has become the norm for communication. As an urban dweller, my daily mail consists of flyers, periodicals and the occasional greeting card, all of which I can live without.

Added to the equation is the ever-increasing cost of stamps and the decline in service for first class mail.

I do understand why the impact may be greater in rural Saskatchewan. But the rural population has been on the decline for decades. We have just elected a majority federal government and the politicians won't be going back to the electors for years and this strike will be long gone and forgotten by then.

In short, strikes only work when the withdrawal of service has a huge impact on the masses. I think the postal union has not picked the best time for job action.

Closer to home, we have the teachers, health care and possibly cancer centre workers claiming the public attention - to a point that the public is becoming jaded. Will some be hurt by this strike? Yes. But I don't think the majority of the public will be up in arms.

I suspect in the near future the postal workers will be licking their wounds if they want the public to be slicking the stamps which pay for the postal services.