by Glenn Taylor
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Nov 28/97) - When the national postal strike hit Inuvik last week, Arlene Hansen was its first victim.

While standing in line with pickup cards for parcels, the call came through. "We're on strike," an employee yelled after taking the call.

Seconds later, service was terminated, and Hansen was left in the lurch -- so close, yet so far from her parcels.

"I'm waiting for Christmas stuff," said Hansen, owner of Originals on Mackenzie. Christmas sales are critical for the store, and the strike couldn't have come at a worse time.

Moe Grant of Moe's Stationery is another business hit by the strike. "If this strike continues, it will make quite a big difference," Grant. "With the road closed, I get lots of my supplies by mail this time of year."

Arctic Dove Ltd., Inuvik's Imperial Oil agent, has been hand-delivering its bills to customers, with a note that payment for fuel oil must be delivered by hand to ensure continued service.

Some companies are actually seeing increased business thanks to the strike. Matco Transportation's Inuvik manager, Jason Gordon, said his company -- which supplies several courier services like Loomis -- has had numerous calls, and courier sales are picking up.

New technology is also offering residents and businesses new ways to circumvent the strike, said Hansen.

With e-mail, faxes, reduced phone rates and special cargo airfares, "the impact of the mail strike is much less than it has been in the past," she said. "And my customers have been telling they have little sympathy for the strikers. Their support is low in the community."

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Canada Post have been trying to negotiate a new collective agreement for workers since April of this year.

By Tuesday, a week of tough sessions had not gained much ground. The lowest point of the affair occurred late last week, when a Canada Post negotiator scuffled with CUPW's chief negotiator in a hotel room.

Postal workers originally sought an 8.6 per cent wage raise over 18 months, but are now looking for "inflation plus," CUPW vice-president Deborah Bourque said.

The corporation has offered three per cent over two years. Both sides didn't appear any closer to settlement by Tuesday, and the federal government was threatening an enforced settlement if the sides couldn't settle.

Inuvik's Canada Post Office was locked tight this week, and repeated phone calls to local management were not returned. The last postal strike was in 1991.