2010 VANCOUVER PRIDE PARADE

In the spirit of the celebration of diversity and the continued struggle for human rights, we would like to extend a warm invitation to all CUPW members of the LGBT community, straight allies, families & friends to join us at the Vancouver Pride Parade on August 1, 2010.

Show your Pride! Celebrate our diversity proudly & openly!

Be a part of the largest Pride event in Western Canada. Last year the parade spanned 20 blocks & attracted an audience of over 600,000. The Pride Parade is an exciting family event where every one is welcome. The Parade begins at 12:00, Sunday August 1st at the Robson Street and Thurlow Street insection.

If you would like to march in the Parade with us, pleae note the following;  Our entry name is Multi Union Pride; Marchers must arrive by 11:30 AM; Our staging location code is AS5 (if you click on the map image to enlarge it, a blue arrow points to our location). The Parade starts at Robson & Thurlow – so it’s probably easier to bike or use transit as it will busy in the immediate vicinity.  Further information is available HERE.

We will be marching with the CUPW banner & flags. Dress up or come as you are – EVERYONE WELCOME!!!! The more, the merrier – let’s show that Postal Workers have Pride!!

CANADA POST’S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET

Who would have thought we would see the day when Canada Post no longer chose to deliver all the mail to all the customers every day? What about their commitment to delivery standards? You may have read the Regional Bulletin (posted on our Local & Regional websites) of June 28th referring to occasions in the Region that Canada Post seemed to be starting a policy of non delivery – so this might not be news to you. Or maybe you heard the rumours, but they seemed too outrageous to be believed. Continue reading “CANADA POST’S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET”

Penticton Letter Carrier Reinstated after Discharge!

A Penticton Letter Carrier has been reinstated to his employment after being discharged in May 2009 on the recommendation of Supervisor Dave Brown. Ray Cartwright, a Relief Letter Carrier at Canada Post for over 20 years, was discharged following a dispute that began when Brown ordered him to sort first-class mail into a sortation case which Canada Post had failed to properly label – the addresses for the mail in question were absent from its case strips! In its letter of discharge, Canada Post claimed that the Grievor had failed to “show remorse for his defiance of a clear and direct order resulting in a deliberate delay of mail”.

This arbitration was scheduled in Penticton on February 11, 2010 (the day following the reinstatement of another Penticton Letter Carrier). In its opening representations, Canada Post’s legal counsel claimed that the Grievor had intentionally delayed the mail and had failed to comply with a well-known “corporate policy” that requires employees to sort addressed mail into sortation cases even when addresses are missing from the case strips. Each claim was categorically rejected by the Union, particularly the existence of such a “corporate policy”.  

After adjourning the February 11th hearing, the parties were able to settle this case in Vancouver with the assistance of Arbitrator Vince Ready. In accordance with the terms of the his reinstatement, the Grievor will receive fifty-two (52) weeks of compensation for lost wages, householder pay, missed overtime opportunities, boot and glove allowance, Corporate Team Incentive (CTI), as well as adjustments to his vacation leave and sick leave credits. 

In solidarity,

Ken Mooney
Regional Grievance Officer

Arbitrator Reinstates New Westminster Letter Carrier!

A New Westminster temporary employee has been reinstated to his employment as a result of an arbitration award dated June 28, 2010. On May 21, 2009, Kerry Stidolph was discharged from Canada Post on the grounds that he had committed “gross misconducts”. At issue were a number of parcels that he had carded rather than deliver based on his understanding that the parcels were to be delivered by a driver. From the outset, the Grievor informed Canada Post that he had made an error in judgment and had felt that the items were over-sized. Nonetheless, Canada Post pursued discharge based on the recommendation of Superintendent Norm Hebert.

At arbitration, the Corporation resorted to mud-flinging; Canada Post’s legal counsel claimed that the Grievor was cavalier, sarcastic, unreliable, dishonest and untruthful, and had deliberately chosen to delay the mail. In response, the Union argued that the Grievor was guilty of nothing more than a judgment error for which he took full responsibility.

In his award, Arbitrator Vince Ready rejected the Corporation’s arguments:

…I cannot conclude that what occurred on April 27, 2009 amounts to the kind of dishonest or intentional delay of mail that attracts immediate discharge as in the cases cited by the Employer…

In his award, Arbitrator Ready reinstated the Grievor, substituted a five day suspension in place of his discharge and retained jurisdiction over the issue of his entitlement to lost earnings during the fifty-six (56) week period of his unemployment.

In solidarity,

Ken Mooney
Regional Grievance Officer

Why CUPW Celebrates Gay Pride
An Invitation to Celebrate & Join in LGBT Pride Events
& to march with us in the
VANCOUVER PRIDE PARADE!

Recently I have been asked by a few co-workers; “Why does the union take the time to participate in human rights & events like Gay Pride when we have to focus on our working conditions & our own problems on the work floor?” I can understand where these folks are coming from when there are issues facing us like CPC National directives that result in major staffing cuts & policies that make no sense to us & result in a loss of service to the public, delay of mail, health & safety risks & violations of the Collective Agreements are running rampant.

However, in the best of times, let alone in the kind of economic & environmental crisis the world is facing, this is not the time to abandon or lessen our commitment to ensuring that the folks on the margins of our society do not fall further through the cracks. Continue reading “Why CUPW Celebrates Gay Pride”

Members of the CUPW Vancouver Local:

Summer is upon us and we are being reminded by our employer to watch for dogs, wear sunscreen and drink lots of water, as Canada Post is concerned for our health and safety. These are all good recommendations to be sure, and we are confident that CUPW members are knowledgeable and intelligent, and possess the good judgement to employ these common sense measures to ensure their optimal health, safety, and well-being.

It is typical of Canada Post to not think of what they can do for us, as employees, to ensure that our health and safety is protected while at work, but to put the responsibility for health and safety onto us, and abdicate their own responsibilities.

Continue reading “Health & Safety July 2010”