About 40 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers held a protest in Shediac on Wednesday afternoon at Beausejour MP Dominic LeBlanc’s constituency office.

CUPW Moncton local president Line Blanchard Doucet says rural mail delivery carriers are upset about the high cost of fuel and are seeking an emergency increase in expenses.

Blanchard Doucet says rural carriers must use their own vehicles.

“Some of our rural route delivery people are having to take money out of their pockets because their gas expenses have doubled and for some of them even more than doubled.”

She notes how CRA sets a rate cap for vehicle expenses.

“At this moment right now, it’s inadequate. They have not changed it since it started in January and the gas prices have doubled.”

Blanchard Doucet says a petition made its way across the country and was presented in the House of Commons in June but the government has yet to respond.

She says CUPW has spoken to staff at Dominic LeBlanc’s office to try and set up a meeting.

Union members intend to hold demonstrations at other MP offices in the region to get their voices heard.