Arbitrator MacPherson maintained the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in the Urban contract and introduced it into the RSMC contract in accordance with the terms of the 2018 Pay equity award of Arbitrator Flynn. The terms of the COLA are the same as agreed to by the parties.
*This bulletin applies to those who retire on or after June 11, 2020. Now that Arbitrator MacPherson has come down with her decision on the Urban and RSMC contracts, many members are thinking of retiring. We want to explain what members are entitled to when it comes to benefits when they retire and what their obligations are when they want to retire*. Coverage for post-retirement benefits are for eligible retirees, their eligible dependents or surviving dependents. Life Insurance coverage only applies to eligible retirees and not their dependents.
During the arbitration process imposed through Bill C-89, CUPW proposed many changes to the payment of hours worked by RSMCs, including regular, overtime, and weekend hours. For us, it is inconceivable that a worker would not be paid for all his or her hours of work.
Arbitrator MacPherson informed the parties that a clerical error had crept into her decision on the RSMC collective agreement. She confirmed that wage increases will take place on January 1st of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (as was the case in the previous collective agreement) and not on February 1st.
In her June 11, 2020 decision, Arbitrator MacPherson rejected the Union’s proposal to reduce the number of pay increment levels and raise minimum wage levels for employees hired on or after February 1st, 2013. However, her decision is imposing a change to the urban collective agreement that deserves particular attention.
Today we received the long awaited interest arbitration decision from Arbitrator Elizabeth MacPherson. Below is a summary of this decision and how it will impact RSMCs. The Following Was Imposed by the Arbitrator...
Today we received the long awaited interest arbitration decision from Arbitrator Elizabeth MacPherson. Below is a summary of this decision and how it will impact Urban Ops employees. The Following Has Been Imposed by the Arbitrator...
IN THE MATTER OF the Postal Services Resumption and Continuation Act, S.C. 2018, c.25 AND IN THE MATTER OF Arbitrations conducted pursuant to Section 11 thereof
Between : Canada Post Corporation (“CPC” or the “Employer”) and Canadian Union of Postal Workers (“CUPW” or the “Union”)
CUPW has received Arbitrator Elizabeth MacPherson’s decision regarding the collective agreements for our two bargaining units at Canada Post: Urban Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers. Her awards are comprehensive and lengthy. CUPW’s negotiating committee is analyzing the details of the awards and we will provide further information shortly.
On May 6, CUPW and Canada Post presented their respective oral arguments to Arbitrator Elizabeth MacPherson. The arbitration is finally complete and now we have to wait for the decision.
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Today, May 21, our negotiation committees received global offers from Canada Post for both the Urban Postal Operation (UPO) and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMCs) bargaining units. The Negotiators are currently reviewing and analyzing the offers’ contents. We will provide a more in-depth analysis shortly, but here are some of the main elements of the offers below...
After walking away from the table for the third time, Canada Post will finally table their global offers today. Our negotiating committee is currently on the way to receive the proposals.
This year, CUPW is proud to celebrate the Pride season under the theme "Workers United Against Hate" proposed by the Canadian Labour Congress. As we face a shocking rise in anti-LGBTQ hate in Canada and around the world, this theme is more important than ever.
On Monday, May 19, CUPW issued a 72-hour strike notice to Canada Post. This action was not taken lightly, but it was done for several reasons.
The collective agreements for the Urban Postal Operations and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers bargaining units, which were extended by the Government in December 2024, are set to expire Friday, May 23 at midnight.
Commissioner Kaplan’s report of the Industrial Inquiry Commission skews heavily in favour of Canada Post’s positions and recommendations. We fundamentally disagree with the bulk of its recommendations and challenge some of the information on which it was based. We have also objected to the entire process, but we felt that we had to participate in order to give voice to postal workers. The report also outlines three possible steps forward after May 22. It is important to note that this is not a done deal. It is up to Minister Patty Hajdu to decide what to do with the report – if anything at all.
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.