| Canada Post extremely disappointed with CUPW’s response to its offers Dear Canada Post customer, I am writing to update you on our negotiations and advise you that there can be no legal work disruption before the expiry of a 72-hour notice, and one has yet to be filed. On Saturday, June 25, 2016, we tabled offers in our separate negotiations with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW-Urban and CUPW-RSMC), which represent our delivery agents and plant employees. Our offers were designed to help bring a quick resolution to the negotiations and end the uncertainty that is negatively impacting our customers and our employees. Our offers included modest and manageable wage increases for all employees and no changes to the pension for all employees in the plan. As you can read in our public statement, we are extremely disappointed with the response from CUPW. Late Friday evening, CUPW tabled offers that would add at least $1 billion in new costs over the term of a new collective agreement while rejecting the Corporation’s approach to address the long-term issues with the employee pension plan. Rather than saddle customers with more than $1 billion in new costs, Canada Post continues to remain at the table to negotiate an agreement that is reasonable and affordable. In the event of a full disruption, Canada Post will not operate, deliver or accept new items. We will keep you updated on our progress. Thank you for your business and your continued patience. Sincerely,  Serge PitreVice-president, Sales Canada Post Corporation |
"The Government of Canada has contingency plans in place in the event of a work stoppage. While a work stoppage will impact the way we deliver services to Canadians, we will continue to provide people with the services and benefits to which they are entitled."
When I first read the above line I thought.......Wow wouldn't it be amazing if Canada Post announced that even though there may be a work stoppage. They have made arrangements to outsource all of the incoming ( Now & Future Mail) to courier companies, at no additional cost to the public. (Since they will be saving some postal worker wages.) That way the great Canadian people would continue to receive the services and benefits to which we are entitled. As the great comedian John Belushi would say......Nah!
The Parties Continue to Meet
Share This
Monday July 11 2016
No 41
2015-2019/141
Negotiations are continuing in an effort to achieve new collective agreements for both the RSMC and Urban bargaining units. The parties are working long hours to achieve this goal. We remain committed to negotiating fair collective agreements, as we have since the beginning of this process. We're encouraged that Canada Post now shares that perspective. We have no plans to issue a 72-hour notice.
Minister of Labour Issues Statement
Yesterday, the Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour issued a statement regarding our negotiations.
“I am pleased that there has been movement at the bargaining table and that progress is being made. I encourage both Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to continue their discussions beyond the lockout notice deadline. I remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached by the parties.
Federal mediators have been assisting the parties in their negotiations. Our government supports a fair and balanced collective bargaining process…”
CPC Withdraws 72-Hour Notice
Seemingly Canada Post reacted to Minister Mihychuk’s appeal and issued the following statement last night:
“Accordingly the Corporation has withdrawn its 72-hour notice. As a result, there will not be a lockout, which will allow both parties to focus their efforts on serious negotiations.
We are also expecting the union to honour their repeated public statements that they have no plans to issue a strike notice. Assurance from both parties that the postal system will remain open for business while we negotiate will provide the certainty that Canadians and our employees are looking for.
Canada Post is committed to negotiating agreements that are fair to our employees while providing affordable pricing and service to Canadians.”
What Now?
The Liberal Government is monitoring our negotiations very closely and encouraging the parties to reach agreements. Our Negotiating Committee will continue to encourage CPC to negotiate in good faith. We need to continue to be strong and determined in the days to come to achieve our goal. To ensure that you are fully informed, monitor Union communications closely.
Solidarity and Determination Will Get Us the
Agreements We Deserve!
Sylvain Lapointe
Chief Negotiator, Urban Unit
George Floresco
Chief Negotiator, RSMC Unit
Big banks can lobby all they want but postal banking is still on the table: union
Wednesday July 13 2016
For Immediate Release
OTTAWA - While pay equity and pensions have grabbed headlines during the current round of bargaining with Canada Post, postal workers say there are other matters on the table, including bringing back postal banking, an idea which has just been rejected by the big bank lobby.
“We’re not surprised that the big banks, which raked in a $35 billion profit last year by gouging Canadians with some of the highest fees in the world, would oppose a public banking option,” said Mike Palecek, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
Aside from making postal banking a bargaining demand, the CUPW, together with the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA), has been actively campaigning for the return of the Canadian postal bank as a way to shore up revenues and offer new public services.
“Post offices have worked and could work very well as banks. We are already processing other financial transactions such as money orders,” said Palecek.
“If Loblaws and Canadian Tire are doing it, why shouldn’t Canada Post? We are everywhere in the country.”
Contrary to lobbyists’ claims that Canadians are already “well-served” by the big banks, Palecek points to recent research from John Anderson and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives that shows the big banks withdrawing and closing branches in many parts of the country, while millions of Canadians are either underbanked or forced to resort to payday lenders and other fringe financial institutions that charge usurious fees.
Many other countries around the world, including Switzerland, New Zealand, the UK and France, have successfully introduced postal banking. Canada Post conducted a four-year study on postal banking, which it refuses to disclose, although a heavily censored version that refers to postal banking as a “win-win strategy” was obtained via an Access to Information request.
“In this round of bargaining and in the public postal review, we will keep pushing for better services for all Canadians,” said Palecek.
Featured Posts
