DHL Express Canada stopped delivery service across the country Friday as workers continue to strike and new federal legislation banning replacement workers comes into effect.

Unifor has said its bargaining priorities with DHL revolve around wages, working conditions and surveillance and automation in the workplace.

Unifor representative Balkar Bains, who was on the picket line in Brampton Friday, said the new legislation has “empowered unions to be able to have fair bargaining.”

Earlier this week, DHL wrote to Ottawa, asking the federal government to allow the company to continue operating despite the ban, arguing the company provides an essential service.

In response, Unifor wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney, asking that the federal government not intervene, saying it would remove the employer’s incentive to negotiate and settle a fair contract.

The DHL delivery stoppage comes at a time of turmoil for parcel delivery in Canada, as Canada Post remains at loggerheads with the union that represents 55,000 of its workers.