Arbitration begins today for new collective agreements – OTTAWA – The arbitration process imposed by the Trudeau government’s back to work legislation for postal workers begins today with negotiators from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and Canada Post meeting with arbitrator Elizabeth MacPherson.
The arbitration process, imposed on us in the back to work legislation, officially begins on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Your negotiating committee and our legal counsel, along with Canada Post representatives, will meet with Arbitrator Elizabeth MacPherson to discuss the issues in dispute and the arbitration process.
On Monday, December 17, 2018 the mediation process under the back to work legislation ended. Mediator-arbitrator Elizabeth MacPherson was unable to bring the parties to an agreement. The parties remain too far apart and there was no agreement to extend the mediation process for an additional seven days.
Over the last number of weeks, allies have set up picket lines at postal facilities across the country to protest Trudeau’s back-to-work legislation and Canada Post’s refusal to negotiate fair contracts for CUPW members. We appreciate the support of our allies. It is clear that postal workers are not alone. The entire labour movement is standing behind us and is prepared to fight to defend the right to free collective bargaining.
Right to Strike Ruled a Charter Right in 2016 Ontario Superior Court Decision - For immediate release - Ottawa - The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) will file a constitutional challenge today with the Ontario Superior Court after being legislated back to work by the Liberal government two weeks ago.
On Monday, December 10, 2018 the Minister of Labour Ms Patty Hajdu appointed Ms Elizabeth MacPherson as the mediator-arbitrator as per the back‑to-work legislation.
Ottawa – Early this morning, we were informed that union and community members set up picket lines outside the mail processing plants in Hamilton and Kingston in Ontario to protest back to work legislation imposed on postal workers last week and fight for the right to free collective bargaining. In solidarity with postal workers, the protest-line allowed workers in, but did not allow mail out.
What is Canada Post doing? While your Negotiating Committee is getting ready for the mediation phase outlined in the Act, Canada Post is packing up and leaving the hotel without even letting the Union know. What a show of class and respect! It appears that Canada Post has no intention of fully taking part in the mediation set out in the back-to-work legislation.
Ottawa – Early this morning, we were informed that union and community members set up picket lines outside the mail processing plant in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and outside the airport in Edmonton, Alberta to protest back to work legislation imposed on postal workers last week and fight for the right to free collective bargaining. In solidarity with postal workers, the protest-line allowed workers in, but did not allow mail out.
Have you ever been to jail in the name of justice? Six of our friends and allies recently have. Austin Hiltz, Art Bouman, Justin Whitten, Brad Fougere, Darius Mirshahi and Tony Tracy were arrested on Sunday, December 2 and held overnight, all because they protested peacefully outside the Halifax Mail Processing Plant. They have since been charged with mischief and obstruction and will return to court January 4 to enter their pleas.
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 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.
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.