Every year, the Corporation asks CUPW members to participate in an employee engagement survey. While seemingly well intentioned on the surface, these surveys are designed not only to pit members against one another for prizes, but also to gauge the temperature of the work floor in advance of negotiations. The CUPW Vancouver local is advising ALL members NOT TO PARTICIPATE.

But what if I participate to leave a negative review?

While we would all like the opportunity to tell the Corporation what we really think, their metrics are based on participation levels. Also, in years past, they have received negative reviews and promised change – change that has never materialized.

What about the prizes?   

Nothing more than trinkets and tax write offs to the Corporation. These draws are meant to stoke competition amongst colleagues and divide our work floors. If all employees in a cell or section participate, they get an extra ticket for a draw. This puts pressure on those who do not feel like participating not to let others down. This is no different than draws of the past where the Corporation tries to incentivize not calling in sick, only this time, they are incentivising a divide. Anything that divides us weakens us at a time where we need to build our strength and solidarity.

Do not forget this is the same Corporation that has taken from its workers all year long and now wants to paint a rosy picture. The plant has lost day shift jobs, letter carriers are being forced into Separate Sort from Delivery, and Groups 3 and 4 were completely ignored in this survey. We as a Union cannot stand for divisiveness on our work floors.

How do I let my employer know that I am dissatisfied?

You can always invoke your right to complain under Article 9.07. but if you really want to make a statement, please come to ratify our package of demands this October. Wear a Union button on our work floors. Make your opinions on voting YES to strike known. You don’t have to remain quiet, but you don’t have to play the Corporation’s game by their rules in order to express your discontent. The best way to send a clear message is to send a message of silence. We want meaningful negotiations, livable wages and decent work conditions – not draws for lamps and coolers.

In Solidarity,

Anju Parmar, President

Congratulations to Michael Seney, who won $2,335.00 in the CUPW Vancouver Local Wide 50/50!!!

Michael Seney with his winning ticket and $2,335!!!

A huge Thank-you to everyone who participated and donated. The final numbers are being crunched, but we definitely beat our expectations for ticket sales, and a donation to Seniors 411 will be announced shortly.

In Solidarity,

Kat Poch, Organizing Director

SAYS NO! TO SSD

NO! to our routes getting longer and longer

NO! to changing Router assignments on a whim

NO! to the erasure of sortation values from the 075 form

NO! to disconnecting carriers from their case strips

NO! to management’s band-aid solutions

Postal Workers say NO! to Separate Sort From Delivery.

It DOES NOT  save floor space or money – but it costs us the time values that we have agreed upon for over 50 years. It costs our backs, our knees, our bodies.

In 2018, Canada Post rammed through it’s first SSD restructure on the west coast at North Fraser Depot. At first, there were 10 routers. Now, despite the rapid expansion of Metrotown and The River District, there are now only 9 routers at North Fraser! How many will your station get under SSD? We don’t know. We don’t know because management has never told us what system they use to determine what an 8 hour work day is for routers, nor how they determine what routers will sort what routes. There has NEVER been consultation at the National, Regional or Local level. Management takes the position that routers are Letter Carrier Assistants, therefore their assignments can be changed at any time with no oversight or input from the Union.

read more here

The Vancouver Local is proud to participate in 3 marches this year:

Friday, August 4^th: Vancouver Trans, Two Spirit, Genderqueer and Intersex March

Organized by a gender-diverse grass roots collective of volunteers, the 2023 Trans, Two-Spirit, Genderqueer, Intersex March is an opportunity for us to celebrate, proudly express our pride and make our voices heard on the issues that affect our lives including violence, bullying, erasure from social histories, harassment and discrimination by public institutions. This event is operated in a spirit of inclusion with two-spirit people who may or may not also claim identities such as trans, genderqueer and others that feel unwelcome at mainstream pride events.

If you’d like to design your own signs, come at 5:30 PM – Materials will be provided

6:15 PM – March from Clark Park (Commercial and 14^th)

6:45 PM – Performances from amazing local trans artists at Victoria park!

More information and updates at:

http://transpridevancouver.wordpress.com

Saturday, August 5^th: Vancouver Dyke March & Festival

We’ll begin in McSpadden Park with some pre-March festivities and a community art project to create the new Vancouver Dyke March banner for this year. Then, the March will leave McSpadden Park and we’ll make our way down Commercial Drive to end at the Festival at Grandview Park. The Festival will continue until 5 PM and will include stage performances, community vendors, and food trucks. The Vancouver Dyke March has always been and continues to be a protest organized to celebrate and uplift the voices of folks who are marginalized, particularly on the basis of gender, within the broader pride movement. CUPW Vancouver will also have a booth at this event. If you are interested in volunteering at our booth engaging with the public on issues facing postal workers, email  at [email protected]

read more here