by Nancy Gardiner
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 22/97) - At least one Northern courier has a contingency plan in case the post office and its main union can't agree on a new contract.

Arctic Express courier service in Iqaluit "will try to pick up the slack, if we can," says owner Corey Stewart. His company holds a contract with Canada Post to do the airport run. They also do the post office's priority courier service. Stewart says if postal talks break down, his courier service work would likely double.

CNX Courier of Yellowknife plans to brief its current customers regarding what services it can offer.

Chris Chenkie, owner of CNX Courier, says he, too, anticipates his volume to double if the post office can't get agreement from its union and "we would hire additional staff on a contingency basis if there is a strike."

"Anyone who wants to use our service would need to prioritize what they need delivered," says Chenkie. First priority would be given to his regular customers, he adds.

CNX delivers locally, across to Nunavut and the rest of Canada.

Although rates vary, it can cost roughly $15 to send a courier envelope from Yellowknife to Iqaluit, or Yellowknife to Ottawa, by CNX.

The company has regular parcel service by ground. In that case, a small parcel might cost $10 from Yellowknife to Edmonton or, by air, $20 from Yellowknife to Iqaluit.

"Generally, Canada Post is at least 20 to 30 per cent lower than courier companies or possibly even more," says Chenkie.

At press time, Canada Post and Canadian Union of Postal Workers were still in discussions -- minus the conciliators.