Remembering and Honouring Residential School Survivors
On September 30, we observe Orange Shirt Day, a movement that officially began in 2013 in British Columbia to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation.
What a unique year it's been so far for the world's crucial postal systems and for us, the workers who make it all happen. The role of a reliable, secure, affordable universal public postal service has been in the spotlight during the pandemic as part of our infrastructure of coping and resilience.
Canadian health authorities predicted a second wave of the coronavirus early on, and indeed, COVID-19 cases are rising in some parts of the country. CUPW members everywhere have done an amazing job preventing COVID-19 from spreading in the workplace.
This week, Parliament of Canada reconvenes for a new session. The new session will begin by our Governor General’s speech from the throne. The speech is pronounced by the Governor General but it represents the new agenda and priorities of the government. The speech is then submitted to a vote, and after debate, must be adopted by Parliament.
This letter was went to all federal political parties -- Dear, The Canadian Union of Postal Workers represents about 60,000 workers across every region of our country. The majority of our members work at Canada Post, but we also represent workers in the private sector; including couriers, cleaners and first responders. In short, our union represents the vital frontline workers that never stopped working during this COVID crisis.
Canada Post Finally Provides a Timeline for Employees on Workers Compensation Board (WCB) for the Retroactive Period - It has been 11 months since the “phase 3” retro payment for pay equity was paid out by CPC. Following this payment, CPC was to work on getting payment to RSMCs who were off work on Injury on Duty (IOD) and receiving payment from provincial WCB. This impacts over 1,000 RSMCs. The Union has been pushing CPC to provide us with information about this payment since the award was rendered. CPC has finally provided the Union with an estimated timeline.
The emergence of COVID-19 was first identified on 30 December 2019 and declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. Before the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, global emissions of carbon dioxide were rising by about 1% per year during the previous decade. But as a result of the shut-down of many economies worldwide, CO2 emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reduced from between 17 and 22% globally. This shows that even a temporary slowdown in industry can result in a positive effect on the environment.
Following many discussions with Canada Post representatives and after reviewing the arbitration decision, in great detail, some clarifications to the June 18, 2020 Bulletin (#152) are required. Arbitrator MacPherson’s award only covers hours worked in excess of 40 hours a week. It also includes a trigger to have access to overtime payment.
CUPW is currently accepting applications for the position of External Organizer for the Pacific and Toronto regions. We will be hiring organizers across the country to help bring more workers into our union and to share in the benefits that unionized workers enjoy.
This Monday, September 7, is Labour Day a time for organized labour to be seen, heard, and united. We celebrated with workers of the world on May 1 – international workers' day – and in September we have a statutory holiday which, for us, holds much the same meaning. Labour Day has been a holiday in Canada since 1894. We encourage members across the country to participate in local events that show workers' collective strength, advocate for better rights and protections, and celebrate our achievements.
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.
May 18 is Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Every year, on this day, we remember the Tamil people who have died since 1948 because of the genocide committed against the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan state, including the massacre in Mullivaikkal, Sri Lanka, in May 2009.
We received Commissioner Kaplan’s lengthy report today on bargaining between CUPW and Canada Post. It comes out of the Industrial Inquiry Commission convened by the former Minister of Labour, Steven MacKinnon, under section 108 of the Canada Labour Code.
Canada Post put out a message today to all CUPW members in the Urban Postal Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers units about benefits coverage and working conditions upon the expiry of the collective agreements on May 22.
This afternoon, Canada Post negotiators informed CUPW that they were leaving the bargaining table, calling it a “temporary pause,” to put together another set of offers. Canada Post would not provide a date for when the Union will receive these proposals. It could be in a few days; it could be next week. Given the seriousness of the matter, it is reprehensible to keep workers and the public on edge when we should all be focused on negotiating good collective agreements that will benefit workers and grow our public service to meet the needs of all Canadians.
The Union has been actively pursuing confirmation from Canada Post that it will respect the post-retirement benefits entitlements of retiring members. The Union was looking to confirm that members who retire will be eligible for post-retirement benefits in the event that the retirement would occur during a labour disruption.
Many members and their dependants are on prescription drugs commonly known as maintenance drugs or long-term medications. These are drugs you may take on a regular basis to treat conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.
As reported in Negotiations Bulletin #75, CUPW and Canada Post returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday and Thursday this week in Ottawa. The meetings were facilitated by two Mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) who are very familiar with our file.
This May, CUPW proudly joins the Asian community across Canada in celebrating
ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH. It’s a time to honour the history and rich cultural contributions of Canadians of Asian descent.
The results from yesterday's federal election are in, and we now know that the next government will be led by Prime Minister Mark Carney of the Liberal Party.
Few could have predicted this result just a few months ago. But a trade war with the US and threats to annex Canada upended the campaign and completely changed the political landscape.
On Wednesday April 30, your Negotiators are returning to the bargaining table in Ottawa to continue their efforts to secure good collective agreements for both the Urban Postal Operation (UPO) and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMCs) bargaining units.