In recent days, the number of workers testing positive for COVID-19 at the Gateway East facility in Mississauga has greatly increased. Public health authorities have ordered that all shift #3 employees are to self-isolate. These employees will receive paid quarantine leave. All shift #2 employees will have to be tested for COVID-19 or self-isolate for 14 days.
The number of people infected with COVID-19 is increasing across the country. In many communities, healthcare systems are overwhelmed, health care workers are at their breaking point, and available ICU beds in hospitals are in very short supply. While two vaccines have been approved by Health Canada, the rollout will take time and, and it may be months before postal workers have access to them. The threat to our health has never been greater, and it is imperative for all postal workers to follow COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Wear your mask properly, maintain physical distancing, wash and sanitize your hands, and if you feel sick, stay home.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is aware that numerous members have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Gateway facility in the Peel Region of Ontario. We understand that many of our members are worried about their health and safety. We are currently investigating, and are in contact with Canada Post Corporation and public health authorities. Peel Public Health is currently conducting rapid testing at the facility.
This winter, we will still have to deal with periods of intense cold like in previous years, with the added challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the milder temperatures experienced to date in the southernmost parts of Canada, we have to be prepared for the extreme cold weather to come and the added complexity of working outdoors with personal protective equipment (PPE), which may increase the risk of frostbite if proper preventive measures are not followed. Take steps to protect yourself and encourage your co-workers to do the same.
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, many provinces are implementing some form of lockdown beginning over the Holidays and continuing into January 2021. These lockdowns will close some schools, and create more demand for childcare.
Eighteen (18) CUPW members, working at the Saskatoon Mail Processing Plant have tested positive for COVID-19. Several of the members are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms, while others are experiencing severe symptoms.
Last Sunday, November 22, at midnight, Canada Post announced a new policy to make face coverings mandatory for employees, contractors, visitors and customers in its facilities across the country. This requirement applies but is not limited to, plant floors, depots, retail outlets, docks and yards, and administrative sites. It also applies to Canada Post employees while working in other facilities, such as multi-unit residential buildings, stores, offices and their common areas, such as entrances, lobbies and hallways.
As the second wave of COVID unfolds, CUPW has emerging concerns that we're keeping a close watch on:
a) we're seeing rising numbers of confirmed cases among our membership, and
b) we now know of cases of workplace transmission, which is something that we fortunately did not face in wave one. This may bring us new issues to deal with.
WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT DURING THE SECOND WAVE
I would have liked to write to you today to let you know that this pandemic is finally behind us.
Unfortunately, and despite what some people may think, we are now in that dreaded second wave that has been anticipated since last summer. As our National President Jan Simpson recently stated in her September 23rd bulletin, we must remain vigilant and ensure our safety.
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.
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 round of bargaining is not just about wages or benefits; it’s about protecting the very future of our work. Group 1 workers need to know what’s at stake.
Management has made it clear they want to close corporate retail counters. Canada Post has publicly called for the end of the moratorium on the closure of post offices in rural areas so it can either close or franchise these post offices.
Today, July 16, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) announced that the government-imposed vote on Canada Post’s collective agreements will begin at 7:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on Monday, July 21, 2025, and will run until 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on Friday, August 1, 2025.
On Monday, July 14, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) issued its decision regarding the content of the offers that members will be voting on in the upcoming government-imposed ratification process. Once again, the CIRB has sided with Canada Post.
Immediately following the announcement of the vote results, CUPW will contact management and invite them to return to the bargaining table.
Both sides must make a commitment to stay at the table until we have an agreement.
During negotiations, CUPW will maintain our overtime ban but not take any additional actions such as a rotating or full-scale strike.
Canada Post has launched a massive communications campaign to sell CUPW members on its “best and final offers.” But remember, Canada Post is only highlighting what it wants you to see. The devil is in the details.
Taking a deeper dive into CPC’s offers and comparing its summaries to its proposed collective agreement language, you’ll find that not everything is quite how Management has made it out to be.
Deadline to apply: September 14, 2025 -
Labour College, the Canadian Labour Congress’ (CLC) flagship trade union leadership development program, is a unique learning opportunity for union leaders and active members to learn new skills and take on the challenges that face the labour movement. It provides university level courses on issues related to work and the rights of workers in Canada. It gives graduates the necessary tools to be effective leaders in their union, their labour council, and the wider labour movement for the benefit of all workers.
The RSMC and Urban Bargaining Committees have unanimously recommended that ALL members decisively reject Canada Post’s “final” offers.
At the National level, the National Executive Board is unanimous in its recommendation to reject the offers. The vast majority of your elected Union representatives from across the country also agree: the Employer’s May 28 offers do not meet our needs and must be rejected.
We have heard that some members are unhappy with the overtime ban strike activity, so we want to help clarify the situation. Your National Executive Board (NEB) decided on this action after hearing feedback about loss of income in the 2024 strike, other input, and debate about strategy. While every member does not work overtime, taking this action means every member will still receive their regular pay. The negotiations demands ratified by members include staffing of positions where overtime and temporary hours are extreme or abusive. This includes adding more permanent positions in Group 1 and properly building routes in Group 2.
Take one look at our collective agreements and you will see what we have gained by being united and supporting each other.
In the 1960s, male workers supported the struggle for equal pay for female workers in the same classification. We were successful in 1970.
It is with great disappointment that we received yesterday a “bottom-line” decision from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) dismissing the Unfair Labour Practice (ULP) that we filed on June 3rd, 2025. This “bottom-line” decision was issued by the CIRB given the upcoming votes and the CIRB will issue full reasons at a later date.