Canada Post refuses real negotiations and ignores the concerns of workers, who provide quality public service. The Fredericton Oromocto Local has used today to illustrate the Solidarity in their Local. During conciliation Locals must use their collective strength to convince the government to negotiate today’s problems and our future. Thanks to the membership of the Fredericton Oromocto Local and Brother Nickerson , their Local President.
Canada Post created a workplace crisis which has been brewing for some time. Workers are overloaded and disrespected, and despite being treated as objects and machines, we have continued to provide a high-quality service for everyone across the country. But we all have limits. Our work ethic can no longer be a license to take advantage of us. Things must change. Things must improve. The time is now.
On May 31, 2018 we received the pay equity decision from Arbitrator Flynn. On the same day, Jessica McDonald, Chair of the Board of Directors and Interim President and CEO, issued a statement in which she promised that CPC was “committed to acting “swiftly and diligently” with CUPW to resolve the issues.
ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL - CANADA - PROVINCE OF ONTARIO - Date: May 31, 2018
ADJUDICATOR: MAUREEN FLYNN
CANADA POST CORPORATION Hereinafter: “the Corporation” or “CPC”
AND
CANADIAN UNION OF POSTAL WORKERS - Hereinafter: “the Union” or “CUPW”
Collective Agreement: Collective Agreement for Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers between Canada Post Corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers – Expires December 31, 2017 (the “collective agreement”)
AWARD OF THE ARBITRATOR (In the matter of a pay equity review process for the Rural and
Suburban Mail Carriers)
In a previous round of bargaining, Canada Post Corporation’s Chief Negotiator for the RSMC unit called the RSMCs a ‘competitive advantage,’ referring to the cost savings Canada Post realized from the wage gap between RSMCs and Urban unit letter carriers. Now Canada Post must eat those words.
In her 176 page decision, Arbitrator Flynn accepted the “derived hourly rate” methodology proposed by CUPW and rejected the point of call approach proposed by Canada Post Corporation. She stated: “the Tribunal comes to the conclusion that the Corporation’s methodology must be rejected. It is not reasonably accurate nor is it reliable. Rather, it is fundamentally flawed and , consequently, produces so-called compensation results that do not correspond to the employees’ respective realities in light of all the evidence that was adduced in this case.”
Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers Ruled Equal to Letter Carriers in Landmark Pay Equity Case - Ottawa – Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) earned a long-awaited victory, as an arbitrator ruled they do work of equal value to urban letter carriers and that there is a wage gap between the two groups. Arbitrator Maureen Flynn also rejected how Canada Post assessed RSMC compensation, accepting instead the methodology presented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).
We received the pay equity arbitration award from Arbitrator Flynn. The award is lengthy and complex and was written only in English. It is currently being translated by CUPW. At this time, we can confirm that the arbitrator has ruled that RSMCs perform work of equal value to that of letter carriers. She has also ruled that a wage gap exists between RSMCs and letter carriers.
Today the Union was notified by Arbitrator Flynn that her decision on the Pay Equity dispute will be released sometime on Thursday, May 31st. It is expected that the decision will be lengthy and complicated. The Union intends to analyze the conclusions of the decision and its impact on the membership as soon as possible and distribute the results through our various means of communication.
The pay equity arbitration hearings are over and we are now waiting for arbitrator Flynn to render her decision. She has informed the parties that we can expect a decision within 30 days.
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.
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.
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.