We continued with our busy arbitration schedule by completing 8 days of hearings in the last three weeks. We have now completed 32 days of hearings. We presented our entire case in 20 days, which included hearing evidence and the cross-examination of 28 witnesses. So far Canada Post has used 12 days of hearings and we have heard evidence from 3 witnesses. They still have their fourth witness on the stand and have at least 3 more witnesses to go after that.
Arbitration resumed on September 26 with a very intense schedule. There are 8 days of hearings scheduled over a three week period. Canada Post continued presenting its evidence.
**AMENDED** Phase three of RSMC retro payment will be on the October 17th pay. This payment will cover the retro payments for the Rest Period Allowance (RPA), Personal Contact Items (PCI) and admail (Neighbourhood Mail).
We are coming up to the final phase of the wage adjustment for Pay Equity. As of now, we are on course for the payment to be released sometime in October. Phase 3 payment will include payments for Rest Period Allowance, PCIs and Admail. RSMCs will also see adjustments on their Schedule A for activity values for PCIs and Lock Changes.
After a brief break, due to scheduling conflicts of all parties involved, the interest arbitration resumed on August 20, 2019 and continued for four consecutive days. Canada Post began with a lengthy opening statement and then began presenting its evidence.
Arbitration hearings resumed last week after a six-week hiatus, due to the availability of the arbitrator and counsel, with Canada Post presenting its evidence for the first time.
As mentioned in the previous bulletin, some issues were resolved and language was signed. These changes will be implemented prior to the new collective agreement. The following are more details about these changes.
We have signed two memorandums of agreement (MOA) with Canada Post that define the timelines to implement the language that has been agreed to and signed during this round of negotiations. We also signed a MOA that will update all expiry dates in the Urban collective agreement to the date of signing of the new collective agreement.
Union Completes Evidence - Day 20 started with the cross examination of Nancy Beauchamp, Chief Negotiator RSMC. She reaffirmed the reasons why we must have language, in the collective agreement, to maintain Pay Equity.
In the current round of negotiations, the parties (CUPW and CPC) agreed to create a new classification in Group 3 (VHE-10 Full-Service Vehicle Mechanic) and to form a committee to study and implement changes in an effort to streamline the roles in Groups 3 and 4. The committee will begin its work as soon as possible and any changes, if agreed upon, will be implemented during the life of the new collective agreement.
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.
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.
A federal election has now been called for April 28, 2025. Although the Canadian Union of Postal Workers does not endorse any party, we will be putting pressure on candidates from all parties to commit to defending our public post office and good stable jobs.
On Thursday, March 20, CUPW will join U.S. postal workers in a day of action to defend the public post office.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is facing one of the most serious threats in its history. Postal worker jobs and unions, and the USPS’s public service mission are under assault by the Trump administration that seems to have one end goal in mind: privatization.