In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada following a motion introduced by Dr. Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament. The House of Commons carried the motion unanimously.
The Amazon Labor Union (ALU), the independent union of Amazon workers who won a union election at the JFK8 facility in Staten Island, New York in the Spring of 2022, have had their election victory upheld by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the highest labour tribunal in the United States.
As per the Memorandum of Agreement extending the Urban Collective Agreement until January 31, 2024, the CUPW and Canada Post held discussions with the goal of resolving the Two Bundle grievances. As the parties were not able to come to an agreement, we asked the Arbitrator to provide his decision to the parties.
The CUPW National Constitution sets the basic dues rate for Urban Operations workers at 300% of the maximum hourly rate for the lowest classification within the bargaining unit. RSMC dues have been set at 1.71% of the wage portion received by each member, to a monthly maximum equal to the dues for Urban Operation members.
Before the peak season lull, the Building Worker Power campaign was moving ahead full force as our eight Regional Organizers visited Locals throughout the country to promote workfloor empowerment, collect contacts and, most importantly, recruit workfloor captains to grow our capacity to fight back against CPC and the government.
During a recent audit of the employer-provided database, CUPW found that 1754 routes with RMBs were not using the reaching device for delivery to RMBs.
Yet some of these routes have actually been using the reaching device for a long time. If the system indicates that the tool has not been implemented, it means that these routes are not receiving the proper compensation.
Is this your case?
Once again this year, cold weather is knocking at our door. This fall, it has been present and felt earlier in the Prairie and Pacific regions. Although late in most of eastern Canada, extreme cold spells will soon be a reality that we will have to deal with.
Appendix “T” is part of the Collective Agreement covering the Urban Operations Unit. Officially called the Service Expansion and Innovation and Change Committee, Appendix “T” is made up of representatives from both Canada Post and the Union. The committee’s mandate is to work together to identify ways of enhancing customer satisfaction, businesses growth, and opportunities to create new jobs.
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On December 1, the Union received new “comprehensive framework” documents which provided the current position of Canada Post through the special mediator for both the Urban Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers bargaining units.
On November 29th, 2024, CUPW has filed an Unfair Labour Practice complaint with the CIRB against lay offs imposed by CPC on workers who are exercising their legal right to strike.
We feel this unprecedented move on the part of CPC is a clear intimidation tactic in violation of the Canada Labour Code. It is an attack on your fundamental right to strike that is enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Your Negotiators are ready and waiting for Canada Post to return to the bargaining table, so we can get back to the important work of negotiating collective agreements for all postal workers.
As members know by now, the special mediator put Negotiations on a temporary pause, suggesting the Employer and the Union were too far apart for meetings to continue. We are hoping that Canada Post takes this time to reassess its positions and finally come to see the flaws in its bargaining proposals.
On Thursday, CUPW rallied at Canada Post Headquarters in Ottawa. They were joined by allies in the labour and social justice movements. Standing in solidarity, they sent a strong message to the Crown Corporation:
We’re ready to continue negotiations, but we can’t bargain with ourselves. Where is Canada Post?
For almost two weeks, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has been on strike against Canada Post fighting for fair wages, safe working conditions, the right for all workers to retire with dignity, and the expansion of public postal services for all communities. But rather than make an effort to bargain good collective agreements that meet the needs of postal workers and the public, Canada Post has dug in its heels.
Canada Post’s latest information update of November 26 describing what is going on at the bargaining table is full of half-truths and outright deception.
First and foremost, CUPW left the meetings Tuesday since we cannot proceed without Canada Post’s negotiators. They had to go back to speak to the Executive Board of Canada Post for further direction.
Over the weekend, Canada Post informed the public and CUPW members, through the media, that CUPW Negotiators had spent Saturday at the bargaining table talking about cleaners working inside Canada Post facilities. This is an outright misrepresentation.
On November 22, Canada Post released its financial results for the 3rd quarter of 2024.
For the three months ending in September 2024, the Corporation reported a loss from operations of $313 million. Overall revenue was down $15 million compared to the same time last year, as growing revenue from Neighbourhood Mail and Transaction Mail were not enough to offset lower parcel volumes.
In several regions across the country, Canada Post has been calling CUPW members to lay them off. While some are saying it is temporary, we’ve heard stories that it may be more permanent. These types of phone calls are merely a scare tactic by Management. We urge members not to panic if you receive such a call. Instead, take note of what the management representative says and then request a record of employment and estimated date of return in order to allow you to apply for EI benefits.