Letter carriers in B.C. have filed a stack of grievances to protest Canada Post's refusal to backfill them when they take time off work, according to their union.

Ken Mooney, regional grievance officer for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, says he has grievances from postal carriers who say their routes across B.C. were left uncovered for as many as three days.

"It has become quite apparent that Canada Post has rolled out a policy of non-delivery in locations throughout British Columbia including Vancouver, Victoria, Fraser Valley, Royal City, Terrace, Cranbrook, Trail, Quesnel, Prince Rupert, Castlegar, Coquitlam, Mission, Nanaimo, Courtenay and elsewhere," he wrote in a letter to Canada's management on Aug. 5.

"At each location, mail has not been delivered, grievances have been filed, and members of the public have not received the service to which they are entitled," he wrote.

Mooney says the mail just piles up until they return. The new policy is hurting Canadians and may actually be illegal, he says.

"They are not covering the route, which is actually required by our collective agreement, but also by the service standard passed by the Conservative government in 2009," he said.

"What it amounts to is delaying the mail, which according to the Canada Post Act is an indictable offence."

The unions has approached management demanding to know if this is a new policy but received no response, he said.

"We're worried this is some sort of pilot project for Canada Post that would be rolled out throughout Canada, and it would be an erosion of postal services."

MP wants answers

Canada Post spokeswoman Colleen Frick told CBC News that mail volumes are down considerably, so hours worked are being matched to the lower volumes.

She did not comment on whether there is a new absentee policy in B.C.

New Democrat MP Alex Atamenenko said he has written to the head of Canada Post demanding answers, but is still waiting to hear back.

Atamenenko says people depend on the mail for their livelihood and suspending service is unacceptable.

"If I'm waiting for a cheque and it's not coming because my letter carrier is sick, then it is totally unacceptable," Atamenenko said.