Postal stoppage preparations being made by some P.E.I. businesses

After almost losing her jewellery-making business during the last Canada Post service disruption five years ago, Kimberly MacIntyre now ships the majority of her parcels by courier and she believes businessesthat rely on Canada Post could soon be in for a rough ride.

• Canada Post issues 72-hour lockout notice, work stoppage possible Friday

Canada Post said it intends to lock out its workers starting onFriday after months of negotiations have failed to make a labour deal between the postal carrier and its largest union. However,the 72-hour lockout notice does not necessarily mean the mailwill stop being deliveredas ofFriday, Canada Post added.

During the last postal strike,McIntyresaidshe had to lay off staff at her store,Kuriosities, and refund credit card payments. After the strike ended, the unpaid product ended up being shipped anyway.

But others surveyed on the streets of Charlottetown today said they were not overly concernedabout the possible disruption,except those whomight be waiting for a cheque in the mail like their social security.

Customers making switch

"We actually have a plan with a couple ofstages we are working out," Maritime Electric spokeswoman Kim Griffin told CBC News, noting the company is getting a lot of phone calls from customers wondering how they should handle their power bills if their mail isdisrupted.

About 48,000Island customers still receive a paper bill through the mail, Griffin said. If there's a disruption, customers can pay online, at any bankor at 20 other retail sites across P.E.I.

The company plans to communicate its plan with customers via phone messages, email and advertising. Griffin said she believes many people will switch their bills to be able to pay online.

The P.E.I. government is encouraging clients in programs such as social assistance to switch to online transfers, which more than half do already.

For those whoaren't, the government saida plan is being finalized to ensure payments can be picked up.

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