One TikToker is facing backlash after being accused of mocking Canada Post workers currently on strike.
On November 15, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced that over 55,000 employees would be on strike, leaving Canadians and business owners in the lurch during the holiday shopping season. The strike has Canadians divided.
However, some netizens are criticizing TikToker @alkhussein for his approach in a viral three-minute video where he speaks to striking workers outside the Albert Jackson Processing Centre in Toronto.
“Reporting live, we’re outside the Post office where motherf**kers are protesting, ruining Christmas like the Grinch, holding the mail hostage,” he says.
He goes on to interview workers standing outside, introducing himself as a journalist, and when asked for an ID, he asks, “What are you? The police?”
The TikToker then explains to one employee that his passport is in the mail “hostage.”
“Can you just do me a favour, bro? Go inside, get my passport, and then keep protesting, but get my mail,” he says.
He then approaches another worker and asks her for a solution to the strike.
“Well, go to Ottawa. Tell CPC to sign the contract. Do you think we want to stand out here?” she asks. “People have families, people have kids, they have mortgages.”
The video currently has over 344,000 views in less than 24 hours.
@alkhussein Canada Post Strike Outside HQ #fyp #canadapost #canada #toronto #strike #reportinglive ♬ original sound – YouTube: Alkhussein
Many saw the humour in the clip, with one user stating, “This is hilarious.”
“Anyone else think it’s funny that they have no idea why they are on strike?” asked one viewer.
However, others expressed their anger and frustration.
“They have done this so many times because they know they can. It’s greedy, fire them all. I hate Canada Post now,” wrote another user.
Someone stated, “@Canada Post Official, go back to work. Anyone would like your jobs. You ruined our kids’ Christmas with your protests!!! We should all get cheques in the mail for the extra $$ we had to spend on shipping.”
“If you’re not happy with the pay, go find another job. Stop this nonsense strike. I’d fire them all and hire and train new employees who need work,” agreed one netizen.
Others shared that they’re in the same situation as @alkhussein.
“They got my passport, my birth certificate, and my driver’s licence. It’s ridiculous. I hope they all get replaced with cheap labourers,” wrote one viewer.
Another stated, “I need my passport as well; the passport office wouldn’t let me pay extra to pick it up because I wasn’t travelling within two weeks.”
As of November 19, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) said that about 85,000 passports that were printed and ready to be mailed were being held by Service Canada.
However, not everyone saw the humour in the short video.
One netizen compared him to notorious American live streamer Ramsey Khalid Ismael, otherwise known as Johnny Somali, who’s currently facing a prison sentence in Korea for offensive antics.
Check this out, some guy goes to a Canada Post facility to troll the postal workers that are on strike. This reminds me of #johnnysomali, the annoying live streamer.
Do you think this guy has no life and is looking for free clout? #CanadaPostStrike #cdnpoli #cdnpolitics #cupw… pic.twitter.com/tferpoGPSZ
— TheRealRobbyLee (@theRealRobbyLee) December 11, 2024
“Hey, be nice to them Canada post workers deserve what they’re asking for,” commented another TikTok user.
“Imagine your passport for holiday travels being more important than the livelihood of these people,” wrote one viewer. “They have families to support and bills to pay. Have some compassion.”
“Bro, can I be honest? Act correct. You troll and sh*t, but they are getting paid under, and you’re trying to make a joke? Bro, grow up, man, come on,” urged another netizen.
“They don’t make $30, and they also don’t just deliver mail. Y’all need to get a clue,” commented one TikTok user.
Someone added, “This isn’t a good look for you. Shouldn’t mock people for trying to get a fair piece of the pie. These corporations are greedy.”
“Not funny. They are trying their best to get living wages, and if the world stops striking, corporations will overpower, control everything as they normally would,” stated another viewer.
Others commented that @alkhussein should be questioning the Canada Post CEO instead.
“If you want your mail, start applying pressure on the Canada Post CEO,” one person suggested.
Another commenter called it “corporate greed.”
“They had the option of rotation strike schedules, but their CEO chose to lock them out! The CEO is holding your shit hostage,” they wrote.
“Wow, that was so painful to watch,” observed one viewer. “Who cares about your passport? Go to the office and ask those stupid questions to the managers and CEOs. I bet you won’t even get close to them because they actually don’t care.”
One person stated that postal workers only make around $50 a day while on strike.
“And it is Christmas. Because of bad negotiating from the company, everyone suffers, not only you, dude. Have some compassion,” they urged.
One viewer pointed out that @alkhussein would not have been in this situation had he chosen the standard passport pick-up option for $20.
“Should have paid $20 extra and collected it from the passport office,” they wrote.
