On May 17th, we join over 130 other countries worldwide in celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. We must remember and acknowledge the continued systemic injustice faced by the LGBTQ community. The theme for this year is Breaking the Silence. It was chosen as a reminder that for most of their lives, LGTBQ people have been made to feel ashamed, stigmatized and have had to hide their sexualities, gender identities or sex characteristics.
ARTICLE 35.08 – RATE OF PAY ON PROMOTION, DEMOTION AND TRANSFER - The Union is continuing to remotely meet and review this file with the employer during this COVID-19 pandemic. On May 14, 2020 (Pay Period 10), Canada Post will be making a payment to approximately 40 other members who were incorrectly paid due to CPC using the incorrect pay rate calculation.
Red Flags in Calgary - Last Friday in Calgary, the public health authority declared an outbreak at the mail processing plant. Six cases since April 20 have been confirmed so far. Canada Post Corporation and Alberta Public Health say they don't believe that the virus was spread in the workplace, and they maintain it is not necessary for asymptomatic members to be tested before returning to work. But as you know, this is not just a question of whether members are safe and healthy, it's a question of how we ensure it.
OTTAWA – On Monday, May 11th, Foodora Couriers will work their last day as the company will officially exit the Canadian market. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is fighting to ensure Foodora takes responsibility for its workers and demands that the Canadian federal government immediately intervene to protect vulnerable gig-workers, ensure couriers, including undocumented workers, are paid severance, and have adequate income supports.
On April 17, 2020 the Ford Government announced an expansion of eligible workers able to access free emergency child care in Ontario. It was the right thing to do, even if overdue. Added to the list of workers were, “federally employed staff including Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Services Agency” and Canada Post employees.” Subsequently we learned that there was not, in fact, a directive issued by the Ford Government to Municipal Child Care Service Managers to restrict access to two-parent families, unless both parents are on the list of “designated” workers.
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.
On April 17, 2020 the Ford Government announced an expansion of eligible workers able to access free emergency child care in Ontario. Added to the list of workers were, “federally employed staff including Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Services Agency and Canada Post employees.” We thought this was a win for postal workers in Ontario. What the Ford Government didn’t announce was a behind the scenes directive to municipal child care service managers to restrict access to two-parent families, unless both parents are on the list of “designated” workers. A little like giving with one hand and taking with the other.
TORONTO - Today at 3 PM, Foodora Couriers and CUPW staged a safe, physically distanced protest at Foodora Canada’s headquarters. This protest comes as a response to Foodora abruptly announcing earlier this week that it would be exiting the Canadian market. The Canadian company is claiming financial trouble, yet Foodora’s parent company, Delivery Hero, boasted this week about a near doubling of their year over year revenue in their first quarter.
This May Day we continue the struggle for justice. No matter where we come from, what we look like, or what we do, we all deserve to have our health and safety ensured at work. We must continue to demand governments and employers move towards social and ecological sustainability, where all are considered and cared for fairly– a way of living collectively where resources are shared in an equitable, peaceful and sustainable way.
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 weekend, March 1 and 2, CUPW and Canada Post negotiators will reconvene in Ottawa to resume bargaining and trying to secure new collective agreements for Urban and RSMC units. Your National Executive Board and Negotiating Committees remain steadfast in their commitment to reaching fair collective agreements.
On International Women’s Day, we honour the achievements of women while also confronting the gender inequality and misogyny that persist in our society.
The National Constitution sets the basic dues rate for Urban Operations workers at 300% of the maximum hourly rate for the lowest classification within the bargaining unit.
RSMC dues have been set at 1.71% of the wage portion received by each member, to a maximum equal to the dues for Urban members. Some Locals have bylaws for a local assessment over and above the monthly basic dues.
CUPW and Canada Post met with Commissioner Kaplan after the fourth day of hearings of the Industrial Inquiry Commission to discuss the next steps. During this meeting, the Parties agreed to return to a parallel two-day negotiations process on March 1 and 2 to try to negotiate new collective agreements for the Urban and RSMC units. Mr. Kaplan will once again serve as Mediator.
Today, February 20, the Industrial Inquiry Commission resumed for a fourth day of hearings with both CUPW and Canada Post presenting their rebuttals.
The Parties were asked to provide detailed costed proposals for this month’s hearings. While CUPW presented well-thought out and researched proposals, the Corporation repeated the same old talking points without submitting documentation or costing to prove that its proposals could return Canada Post to financial sustainability. The Corporation instead proposed new language.
Bar charts are calculated from September 1 to August 31 annually. Because of the strike, which took place from November 15 to December 13, 2024, there were only nine working days each in November and December. In this case, we concluded an agreement with Canada Post, similar to the one reached in 2018, to exclude those 22 days from the bar charts calculations.
Today, February 19, the Industrial Inquiry Commission held its third day of hearings. We received an update on the number of submissions made to the Commission before the public deadline – approximately 900! The Commission hopes to have these all made available to the Parties by Friday.
CUPW is gearing up for its flagship education initiative, the Union Education Program (UEP), which will take place over four weeks in 2025. The Program is intended to build leadership capacity in our Union. Your application must be submitted by March 1, 2025 ...