Category: Bulletins

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Union Calls on Deepak Chopra for a “New Mandate”

June 15, 2011  –  11:00

Urban Postal Unit Negotiations (2011) / Media Release

For Immediate Release

OTTAWA – The national president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers responded to a nation-wide lockout today by calling on the recently hired CEO of Canada Post, Deepak Chopra, to change his negotiators’ tune.

“We want to arrange an immediate meeting with Deepak Chopra,” said Denis Lemelin, National President of CUPW at a press conference today.

“At this meeting, we will request three things:

1. We want Mr. Chopra to make a public commitment that CPC will permit our members to deliver social assistance cheques. This was an initiative of the union.

2. We want Mr. Chopra to agree to reinstate our contract and we will return to work and keep negotiating. We have already made this offer.

3. We want Mr. Chopra to provide CPC’s negotiators with a new mandate. Until now their only mandate has been to say ‘No’ to our proposals such as health and safety solutions, and make demands for major concessions on issues such as sick leave and lower wages for new workers.”

CUPW points out that Canada Post’s “No” is, by their own admission, costing them dearly. “They are claiming that our rotating strikes have cost them $100 million in 12 days,” said Lemelin.  “It would cost them much less to deal with us fairly and negotiate a contract.”

For more information, please contact Aalya Ahmad,             613-327-1177       or Kevin Matthews,             613 -222-3952      .

This document is available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
Please click here to download it.

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CUPW Statement

The union will be holding a press conference at 11 am EDT at its national office and will be making additional statements then.

The actions of CPC management in locking out postal workers nation-wide are irresponsible. There is now a considerable amount of mail in the system that will not be delivered.

Canada Post is reneging on its responsibility to the public to deliver mail that has been paid for. We committed to deliver pension and social assistance cheques and we intend to fulfil that commitment.

This is a totally counterproductive response to the Labour Minister’s request to resume operations.

Canada Post is claiming that it has lost $100 million. Their constant “No” at the bargaining table is costing them dearly. If they want to stop losing money, they need to negotiate instead of attacking their workers.

We have contacted the mediator to arrange an immediate meeting with Deepak Chopra. More to follow.

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YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY AT CANADA POST WITHOUT A COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT

Members of the CUPW Vancouver Local:

As Canada Post has chosen to revoke our rights under the Collective Agreement, cancel all paid injury on duty and sick leave, as well as our extended health benefits (late last week they did create a temporary plan with Great-West Life but it still leaves CUPW members on the hook for the first $100 of each prescription and 20% of the remainder), now, more than ever, it is critical that we understand our rights and what Canada Post’s legal responsibilities are to ensure our health and safety.

Continue reading “YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY AT CANADA POST WITHOUT A COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT”

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Rally for mail delivery. Rally for a public service!

In response to a meeting with Labour Minister Lisa Raitt, CUPW offered to end the rotating strike and continue negotiations if Canada Post would reinstate the expired collective agreement.  The collective agreement that allowed Canada Post to maintain and even increase its profitability during the 4 years it was in effect.  Canada Post responded with the following news release: “Canada Post believes nothing will be gained by reverting back to the previous collective agreement.”  CUPW believes that restoring regular mail delivery would be a gain for all Canadians.

Instead of resuming normal operations, Canada Post chose to lock out postal workers and cut back delivery to 3 days a week.  CUPW postal workers are ready, willing and very able to deliver the mail that is now backing up at postal installations right accross Canada.  If you have been told not to report for work tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14, 2011, join us at a rally in front of the Vancouver Mail Processing Plant at 8:AM, where we will tell the Canadian public that “We want to deliver your mail, but Canada Post won’t let us.”

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“Canada Post wants a Full-Scale Strike and Back-to-Work Legislation,” Charges Union

June 13, 2011  –  10:10

Urban Postal Unit Negotiations (2011) / Bulletin

For Immediate Release

OTTAWA – The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is accusing Canada Post of aggressively trying to force postal workers out on a full-scale national strike in order to secure back-to-work legislation from the majority Conservative government.

“Canada Post is doing everything it can to provoke the union into a national walkout in the hope that the government will intervene,” said CUPW’s National President and Chief Negotiator Denis Lemelin.

Although CUPW offered to suspend its rotating strikes and go back to work, provided that the expired collective agreement is reinstated in order to protect members on the work floor, Canada Post management has refused. CUPW says its offer to call the strike off still stands.

“They are not interested in negotiating with us to end this strike. They want to force postal workers to take concessions,” said Lemelin. “To that end, they are suspending postal service across the country, even where no picket lines are up.”

Calling Canada Post’s recent announcement that service will be reduced to three days a week a “partial lockout,” Lemelin urged the media and the public to get all the facts. At a press conference held today, the union distributed a list of pointed questions that it wants the media and the public to ask Canada Post.

Since the rotating strikes began ten days ago, less than one third of the population has experienced any loss in service. The union points out that Canada Post’s reduction will amount to a far greater impact in just one day than anything the union has done so far.  “Despite mail piling up in its plants, Canada Post is unnecessarily reducing service across the country,” said Lemelin.  “They do not have to impact the service to get us to negotiate. We are at the bargaining table and willing to negotiate a settlement.” “There would be no stalemate at the bargaining table if Canada Post were prepared to negotiate.”

For more information contact Aalya Ahmad, CUPW Communications,             (613) 236-7238      , Cell:               (613) 327-1177     

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Negotiations Alert: Ten Locals Go Out To Highlight Unnecessary Service Cutbacks

June 12, 2011  –  19:05

Strike / Negotiations Alert

At 10:00 p.m. EDT, the following locals will commence 24-hour strike action. These locals were chosen to highlight the negative impact of unnecessary service cutbacks introduced by Canada Post Corporation.

  • Breton, NS  (Sydney, North Sydney, Sydney Mines, New Waterford and Glace Bay)
  • Fredericton, NB
  • Mauricie, QC
  • Sherbrooke, QC
  • Corner Brook, NL
  • Cornwall, ON
  • Windsor, ON
  • Niagara Falls, ON
  • Regina, SK
  • Nanaimo, BC (10:00 p.m. local time).

Tonight, the Red Deer local will return to work ending its 48-hour walkout.

Press Conference Tomorrow:

CUPW will hold a press conference tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. EDT at 377 Bank St. Ottawa.

This document is available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
Please click here to download it.