As bargaining continues between CUPW and Canada Post, and CUPW members engage in nationwide rotating strikes in an effort to get Canada Post to negotiate seriously, working conditions have rapidly declined on our work floors.
Not only has Canada Post cancelled all paid vacation and sick leave since CUPW gave strike notice, but as of this week they hit our most vulnerable workers hard with the announcement that all temporary workers would be laid-off, and in many locations, injured and PPD workers being accommodated in accordance with the Canadian Human Rights Act would be sent home without pay.
In a news release dated June 8, Canada Post claims that the impact of CUPW’s rotating strikes has resulted in a drop in mail volumes of “up to 50 percent,” thereby making it necessary to adjust staffing levels in order to reduce labour costs. As such, Canada Post has informed the public that letters, admail small packages and documents will be delivered 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), and that efforts will be made to ensure that priority items are delivered 5 days a week.
Reducing labour costs apparently requires that Canada Post violate both the Canadian Human Rights Act as well as the Canadian Postal Service Charter, which mandates Canada Post to deliver letters, parcels and publications five days a week. As CUPW opts for rotating strikes as a way to lessen the impact on the Canadian public, Canada Post does not appear to have the same regard for its customers, its employees, or Canadian law. Instead, it would appear that Canada Post is using a slight decrease in volumes, which according to CUPW workers who are handling the mail on a daily basis is far less than the 50% reduction that Canada Post is claiming, to further malign CUPW members by holding them responsible for Canada Post’s failure to live up to their obligation to the Canadian public.
Another effect of Canada Post’s recent staffing decisions, which appear nothing short of retaliatory against the CUPW membership, is the stress and division that this is creating on the work floor. As employees are being laid-off, having their hours reduced, or are being sent home without pay, worries about financial hardship increase, as do fears about what the next reprisal will be, and how long this will go on for.
CUPW encourages its members to stand together and support one another on the work floor. We can not allow Canada Post to be successful in their attempts to weaken our resolve. It is also critical that we show strong support to our negotiating committee when it comes time to strike – the success of these negotiations depends so much upon the support of CUPW members on the picket lines. We must show Canada Post that we are willing to stand together in solidarity to protect our jobs, and the future of a valuable public service that belongs to all Canadians.