The federal government has only partially protected postal services in the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Canada took an Annex I reservation rather than a stronger Annex II reservation. An Annex II reservation would have protected existing or future non-conforming measures and allowed for future policy changes. For example, an Annex II reservation would have given the government the policy flexibility to reverse postal deregulation that is not working.
The federal government has reached an agreement with the European Union (EU) on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). A leaked document indicates that CETA only partially protects postal services. Reports to date indicate that the agreement may also: • Unfairly restrict how local governments spend money and ban “buy local” policies. • Add up to $3 billion to the price of drugs. • Increase Canada’s trade deficit with Europe, leading to significant job losses. • Undermine protections for health care and culture. • Create pressure to increase privatization of local water systems, transit and energy. • Allow European corporations to challenge our laws, policies and programs through investor-state provisions, including environmental and health measures.
Media reports indicate that the federal government has agreed to give Europeans more market access to our postal services as a result of negotiations over the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The term "market access" is used in trade agreements to refer to conditions relating to market entry, such as tariffs or customs regulations and procedures. However, it traditionally means providing greater entrance to a market. As you may recall, the government increased access to our postal market in 2010 when it deregulated international letters. It is possible that the government has locked in its deregulation of outbound international mail through CETA, which would prevent a future government from being able to reverse this move. CUPW has written to Steve Verheul, Canada's Chief negotiator for CETA, asking for more information. We are also attempting to arrange a meeting with Verheul.
Support Postal Banking - Download and Sign the Petition
Canada needs a postal bank. Thousands of rural towns and villages in our country do not have a bank, but many of them have a post office that could provide financial services. As well, nearly two million Canadians desperately need an alternative to payday lenders. A postal bank could be that alternative. Download and sign the petition urging the Government of Canada to instruct Canada Post to add postal banking, with a mandate for financial inclusion.
This Labour Day, workers across Canada are gathering not just to celebrate our history, but to demand a fair future. This year’s theme, “A Canada for Workers: Made Here, Paid Here,” is a call to action: the people who power this country deserve recognition and results.
After reaching out to Canada Post through the Federal mediators to schedule a meeting, the Negotiating Committees will return to the bargaining table today, Wednesday, August 27.
The Federal mediators advised us that Canada Post has cancelled today’s (August 25) planned meeting. The Corporation says it needs more time to review our latest global offers. We are expecting to receive more questions from Canada Post about our offers through the Federal mediators.
Yesterday, August 20, CUPW’s Negotiating Committees returned to the bargaining table to present comprehensive global offers for both the RSMC and Urban bargaining units.
While we had planned to meet again tomorrow, Canada Post has told us today that it needs more time to review our offers.