We are very sorry to hear about the passing of Brother Bob White. Bob was a passionate defender of the working class throughout his life. CUPW owes him a debt of gratitude for the role he played, as head of the Canadian Labour Congress, in helping our union win employee status and a collective agreement for over 6000 Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers. We shall forever be grateful for his assistance and support.
On February 2nd we were notified that Maureen Flynn has been appointed as our arbitrator under the Pay Equity Study Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Though the parties have not had a disagreement that requires Arbitrator Flynn’s intervention, we welcome her appointment. Her appointment will allow for any disagreements to be handled expeditiously.
Our Union mourns the tragic loss of the fathers, husbands and sons massacred while they prayed at the Islamic cultural centre in Quebec City. These acts of hate harm everyone. Now is a time for reflection, compassion and meaningful solidarity. Muslim Canadians are represented in every field of work. They are our families and our co-workers.
Dear Mr. Yangi, On behalf of the 50,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers I wish to extend our support, compassion and recognition of the tragic loss of members for the Muslim community and the citizens of Quebec City at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec.
Every February is a chance for us to reflect on the connections between Black history and our engagement with the living present. It’s not just a month to reflect, and to educate, but also a time to consider the history we are now making, and make sure we take pride in our work for a better future.
AMENDED: The 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. Some locals have bylaws for a local assessment over and above the basic dues.
Last year, the House of Commons voted to “recognize the contributions that Tamil-Canadians have made to Canadian society, the richness of the Tamil language and culture, and the importance of educating and reflecting upon Tamil heritage for future generations by declaring January, every year, Tamil Heritage Month.” The Tamil people are one of the oldest ethnic groups in the world and Tamil is the oldest written language in the world. Toronto is home to the largest Sri Lankan Tamil population outside Sri Lanka. Many Tamils migrated from Sri Lanka following the outbreak of a brutal civil war in the early 1980s, making Canada home to one of the largest Sri Lankan diasporas in the world.
Our National Executive Board has prepared this paper to facilitate a discussion with members – a discussion that will develop collective bargaining demands for the 2017-2018 negotiations. Currently the Urban Postal Operations unit (UPO) and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMCs) are under two distinct Collective Agreements (CAs). CUPW will eventually unify these units. Some sections below will lead to demands that either affect one CA or the other (should we not to gain unity in this round), or else create classification-specific language in a unified CA.
Dear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, In a case of great urgency, I am appealing that you recommend to President Obama that he grant clemency and/or commutation of sentence to Leonard Peltier, a Native American indigenous prisoner who has served more than 40 years in maximum-security prisons, falsely extradited from Canada, and wrongly convicted in the United States. The late Hon. Warren Allmand, M.C., Q.C., in his distinguished career as a Liberal Member of Parliament, had spent four decades in examining all the facts and circumstances of Mr. Peltier’s extradition and his case of wrongful imprisonment.
In the winter, parts of the country may be affected by extensive periods of extremely cold weather. Take steps to protect yourself and encourage your co-workers to do the same.
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.
It is with deep sadness I must convey news of the passing of Darrell Tingley, former CUPW President and lifelong union activist.
From a very early age Brother Tingley committed his life to further the struggle of postal workers and the Canadian and international working class.
The past several months have been very busy for the Union. And in the month ahead, there is still more to come: a federal election, the Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC) report, Canada Post’s 2024 annual report, and the end of the extension of our collective agreements. We know members have lots of questions about what is going to happen, especially after the extensions of our collective agreements.
The CUPW child care fund has been working with communities across Canada to create affordable, high quality non profit and public child care for nearly 30 years. From the beginning, the push for universal child care has been interwoven in the development of child care projects and the funding of research that informs and shapes policy.
April 28 is the National Day of Mourning. A day to honour and remember those who have lost their lives, suffered injuries, or become ill because of their work. On this day, we reflect and reaffirm our commitment to fight for workplace health and safety.
Founded in 2011 by Paul and Raven Lacerte, the Moose Hide Campaign began as a grassroots initiative along British Columbia’s Highway of Tears—a region marked by the tragic disappearance and murder of many Indigenous women and girls. The campaign encourages men and boys, alongside all Canadians, to commit to ending gender-based violence.
The April 28 election is happening as we are engaged in a fight for the future of our post office and our jobs. Canada Post is pushing for drastic changes which could lead to job cuts and negatively impact our communities. Canada Post’s sole shareholder is the Government. Who is in government matters. We represent a big voting bloc which could have an impact on election results – particularly in tight races. We can make the future of our public post office an election issue.
Now that hearings for the Industrial Inquiry Commission are complete, we'd like to remind members of some important dates in the weeks ahead. Commissioner Kaplan’s final report to the Minister of Labour is due May 15. His report will give the Minister recommendations about how to resolve the issues in dispute in bargaining. It may also include recommendations about the structure and operations of Canada Post. We made our position clear throughout the hearings that these types of questions must only be dealt with in a fully public mandate review.
Postal workers are well aware that the planet is getting hotter. More and more, we are facing extreme events - such as an increasing number of wildfires with their toxic smoke, lethal heat domes and atmospheric rivers bringing more rain, more coastal storms and more flooding. But it’s children who are most at risk.